Creamy Coleslaw
A cool, crunchy cabbage and carrot salad in a tangy, lightly sweet dressing. It comes together in 20 minutes and pairs well with anything fried, grilled or barbecued.
Published 29 Sep 2026
Ingredients
Equipment: Large mixing bowl, sharp knife or box grater, small bowl, whisk, colander
Method
Toss the shredded cabbage with the salt in a large bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes. The cabbage will soften slightly and release some water.
While the cabbage rests, whisk the mayonnaise, yogurt, vinegar, sugar, mustard, celery seeds and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and the sugar has dissolved.
Tip the cabbage into a colander, press down firmly with your hands and drain off the liquid. Return it to the dry bowl.
Add the carrots and spring onions to the cabbage and pour over the dressing. Toss well until every strand is evenly coated.
Taste and adjust with a little more salt, sugar or vinegar until it is creamy, tangy and slightly sweet.
Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavours blend. Stir, sprinkle with parsley and serve cold.
Cooking tips
- Shred the cabbage as finely as you can; thin strands soak up the dressing and are easier to eat.
- Salting and draining the cabbage keeps the coleslaw from turning watery in the fridge.
- Dress the slaw up to a few hours ahead for the best flavour, but add the parsley just before serving.
- For a lighter dressing, use equal parts mayonnaise and yogurt.
Substitutions
- Replace the mayonnaise with extra thick yogurt for a tangier, lighter slaw.
- Use white sugar or 2 tsp honey; both work in the dressing.
- Swap the celery seeds for a pinch of cumin, or leave them out.
- Add a handful of thinly sliced purple cabbage for colour, replacing about a quarter of the green cabbage.
Serve with
"Serve alongside fried chicken, BBQ wings, burgers or grilled fish, or spoon it into pulled chicken sandwiches and zinger burgers for a cool crunch."
Storage
"Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will release some liquid over time, so stir before serving."
Reheating
"Serve cold; do not reheat. If it looks loose, drain off excess liquid and stir in a spoonful of mayonnaise."
Nutrition per serving, estimated
Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.
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