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    Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw

    March 1, 2024

    This slaw is magic. Red cabbage, tart granny smith apples, the slight heat of jalapeño, a squeeze of bright lime juice and the refreshing flavors of mint and cilantro–it simply cannot be beat!

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    red cabbage and apple slaw made with red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    An Apple and Cabbage Slaw Loaded With Flavor

    A good slaw recipe is something that is often guarded like a national secret. Lucky for us, our generous friends shared their recipe for this beyond ordinary red cabbage and apple slaw. It’s something we’ve made on repeat since we first ate it, and we’re sure that you will too! Bring it to your next picnic, or serve it at the backyard BBQ with Beer Brats and Corn on the Cob.

    shredded red cabbage, apple, red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper in prep bowls

    Ingredients You’ll Need For Apple and Red Cabbage Slaw

    • Red cabbage–We love red cabbage (also called purple cabbage) for its vibrant color, but if you have other cabbage on hand that you’d like to use, that will work too, or you can check out our Classic Slaw or Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw recipes.

    • Granny Smith apples–Crisp and tart!!

    • Red onion–Red onion brings a little spicy warmth to the slaw.

    • Jalapeño–If you don’t love spice, you can leave this out. As far as peppers go, jalapeño is pretty mild.

    • Herbs–Cilantro and mint for the most refreshment!

    • Lime zest and juice–Nice and bright citrus to blend with the mayo.

    • Mayonnaise–Just the tiniest amount! You could definitely sub yogurt (we only call for ¼ cup) but we prefer mayo.

    red cabbage, apple, red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper in a large bowl
    red cabbage and apple slaw made with red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper

    How to Make This Wholesome Cabbage and Apple Slaw

    • Cut, chop, and zest all of your ingredients. You’ll want to have a good knife and citrus zester around for this!

    • Combine the ingredients–Cabbage, apples, onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest lime juice, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper all together in a large bowl.

    • Let it mellow. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    red cabbage and apple slaw made with red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper

    How to Store Cabbage and Apple Slaw + Tips

    • Cabbage is pretty hardy, and this cabbage and apple coleslaw will hold up in the fridge for up to six days.

    • A head of cabbage can be a lot of cabbage. If you find yourself with more cabbage on your hands than you know what to do with, it’s best to freeze any extra cabbage before you dress it.

    • Give this coleslaw at least 30 minutes to marinate before serving.

    • We love a mandoline for this recipe. Some people shy away from a mandoline, but once you get used to using this tool, it helps jobs like this go by in a snap.

    red cabbage and apple slaw made with red onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest and juice, mayo, salt and pepper

    More Great Ways To Use Cabbage From The Modern Proper

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    Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw

    Updated on March 1, 2024

    • Serves:  6
    • Prep Time:  30 min
    • Cook Time:  0 min
    • Calories:  132
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    Ingredients

    • ½ red cabbage, finely shaved
    • 2 granny smith apples, cut into matchsticks
    • ½ red onion, very thinly sliced
    • 1 cup loosely packed cilantro, roughly chopped
    • ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves, roughly chopped
    • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon lime zest (from 1 lime)
    • 1½ teaspoons lime juice (from 1 lime), plus more to taste
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • Kosher salt, to taste
    • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

    Method

    1. In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, apples, onion, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime zest lime juice, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.

    2. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 132
    • Protein 2 g
    • Carbohydrates 18 g
    • Total Fat 7 g
    • Dietary Fiber 5 g
    • Cholesterol 4 mg
    • sodium 169 mg
    • Total Sugars 11 g

    Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Catherine

      If I dont have a line on hand, would lemon be a good substitution? Or cider vinegar?

      We honestly wouldn't sub anything for lime in this specific recipe.

    • Kandy

      How can I substitute cilantro?

      You can just leave it out if you don't like cilantro.

    • Angèle

      I LOVED this slaw. Made it for a huge crowd along with pulled pork and had everyone bring potluck style sides - it was a hit. Instead of mayo, I made a EVOO, lime, and honey simple dressing and also added sugar snap peas for extra green. SO good. Extra great if you have time to dice and slice everything extra fine for the textural component. Thanks MP!

      Thanks Angèle! So happy you loved it!

    • Tresa

      I don't normally like typical coleslaw so I made this for a party where I served bbq sliders and I loved it! The sweet tart crunch from the apples was so good and I love the mint in it! Highly recommend!

      Glad you enjoyed it, Tresa!

    • Jenn

      This was so delicious! I love the sour and bit spicy combination!

      Thank Jenn!