Red Cabbage Coleslaw with Lime and Cilantro

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Crispy cabbage, shredded carrots and a zesty dressing make this easy red cabbage coleslaw for tacos and side dishes a perfect taco night topping or BBQ side dish. I make this coleslaw all of the time (I pretty surprised I haven’t written a post on it yet!) This fresh red cabbage slaw with mayo and lime is so easy to mix up and is quick, healthy, crunchy snack when I need a mid-day boost. Lime and cilantro are a classic combo in salsa and guacamole, the pairing is perfect in this red cabbage coleslaw recipe. Red cabbage is one of the most versatile and underused vegetables in the kitchen – it works just as beautifully in this Asian spiced red cabbage with plums as it does in this bright summer slaw

Slaw Ingredients

Simple, fresh and zesty thanks to the addition of lime; this red cabbage slaw goes on practically anything! A few ingredients mixed in a bowl, and this slaw makes this recipe a consistent repeat on my table all year long.

• Red cabbage: sliced thin, with a hint of pepper; this nutrient filled powerhouse is the star of this dish.
• Grated carrots: carrots add crunch, color and mellow the peppery flavor of the cabbage.
• Cilantro: chopped fresh cilantro creates a completely different flavor profile to the classic barbeque side dish coleslaw.
• Lime: I swap the traditional vinegar for a different acid, lime juice’s acidity adds that tangy flavor to this versatile side dish.
• Sugar: this recipe uses just a pinch, but it makes all the difference in the end result .
• Mayonnaise: the ingredient that binds it all together. I dont go heavy on the mayo, just a few spoonfuls will do. This red cabbage coleslaw recipe is all about flavor, the mayo in this recipe acts as a binder.
• Salt and pepper: Just seasoned to taste

My Coleslaw Method

If your looking to make red cabbage coleslaw from scratch, read on for my simple tips.

Shredded cabbage, lime juice. chopped cilantro, grated carrots, and a quick homemade dressing are stirred together; resulting in a flavorful coleslaw salad.

I use either method for my coleslaw when chopping the cabbage (let’s be honest, besides the grating of carrots it’s the most arduous part) I either thinly slice using a knife or use the slicing setting on a spiralizer. I prefer the slice from spiralizer, it cuts even, thin ribbons of cabbage. But if you do not have a spiralizer, a knife works just as well, there’s just more elbow grease involved.

I cut the red cabbage first before moving on to grating the carrots and chopping the cilantro.

After the veggies are cut, I mix up thee coleslaw dressing with mayo, cilantro, lime and sugar, before dowsing the slaw and stirring to coat evenly.

Variations:

This recipe is my taco night go to, and I normally keep the recipe just as it’s written here. But some nights (depending on how I seasoned my protein) require a little something extra…

• Add some sliced jalapeno for a bit of heat
• Switch out the lime juice for lemon
• Light it up, by switching out the mayo for greek yogurt

If you love bright, fresh salads with bold dressing this shrimp salad with blackberries and apricot vinaigrette is another beautiful summer recipe worth trying.

Serving Suggestions

This is best coleslaw for taco night; the cilantro and lime are really a perfect pairing. Any type of taco will do, but what to serve red cabbage coleslaw with is definitely fish tacos.

This red cabbage slaw as a summer side dish is the prefect offering at BBQ’s, it’s quick to throw together and most of the ingredients can be picked up at your farmers marker or farm stand the morning of. This veggie side with a bit of citrus acid is the perfect accompaniment for grilled barbeque sauce slather main dishes.

If you love cabbage in all its forms, these roasted cabbage wedges with hot bacon mustard dressing are a completely different but equally satisfying way to serve it – perfect for fall and winter when you want something warm and hearty.

Some recipes earn their place not because they are complicated but because they are exactly right – crisp, bright and completely reliable. This red cabbage coleslaw is that recipe. It takes ten minutes, it makes everything it sits alongside taste better and it disappears faster than anything else on the table.

Make it for taco night, bring it to a summer cookout or pile it alongside anything grilled and let it do what it does best. Leave a comment below if you make it — I’d love to know what you served it with.