Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

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This sweet and tangy vinegar coleslaw makes a great accompaniment to rich barbecue.

By

Joshua Bousel

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (1)

Joshua Bousel

Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated June 06, 2023

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Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • A sugar-and-salt mixture purges the cabbage of excess moisture, leaving it tender, but still crunchy and well-seasoned.
  • An equal amount of vinegar and sugar gives this slaw a tangy and sweet character.
  • Celery seeds add a light celery flavor and some pleasing texture.

Growing up, I assumed that coleslaw was some sort of joke. Why would I ever want that sorry little paper cup of tough, bland cabbage? You know, the kind that comes as a paltry afterthought with your towering sandwich at the local Greek diner? I always figured it was just a steady, meticulous way to rid the world of a vegetable no one really wanted, one sandwich at a time.

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (3)

And that was pretty much my view for over a decade, right up until I found the Gospel of Barbecue. With the great tradition of smoked meats, I was presented with coleslaw alongside pulled pork, ribs, and brisket, served in portions that made it seem like something you'd actually want to eat—and best of all, it was!

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (4)

Good coleslaw provides a light and fresh contrast to heavy, barbecued meats, with a tang that manages to cut through (at least some) of the deliciously greasy fat. So I stopped shying away from slaw and started to embrace it, getting to know a range of variations that have turned me from an uncompromising hater to a full-on lover of all things cabbage salad.

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (5)

Over the years, I've experimented with making slaw at home, but I never really thought I was killing it until Kenji gave coleslaw the Food-Lab treatment last summer. The trick is to purge your slaw vegetables of all excess moisture, leaving behind a well-seasoned mix that's nice and tender with just the right amount of crunch. The process itself requires simply mixing the shredded vegetables with sugar and salt for about five minutes before giving it a good rinse and a ride in the salad spinner.

Now that I've got that perfect traditional slaw down pat, I've shifted my efforts to varying the dressing flavors. Here is a classic vinegar slaw, but there are variations. There’s Lexington-style red slaw, mustard slaw, tangy apple slaw, and spicy slaw with a kick.

Vinegar slaw was my gateway slaw, the first I ever remember really loving. We met at the second Big Apple Block Party in New York back in 2004 and, while I can't remember exactly who was slinging the vinegar slaw that year, a very close approximation has since showed up in Mike and Amy Mill's book, Peace, Love, and Barbecue.

The dressing is simply a one-to-one mix of cider vinegar and sugar with a little bit of garlic, oil, and celery seeds, which add a light celery flavor and a bit of texture. It may be simple, but it works so darn well; those straightforward tangy, sweet flavors pair harmoniously with the more complex rubs and seasonings found in most barbecue. Because of its bright, fresh character, I also love it as a sandwich component.

June 2014

This recipe was cross-tested in 2023 and updated to guarantee best results. For a more balanced dressing, we reduced the amount of sugar used.

Recipe Details

Vinegar Coleslaw

Prep15 mins

Active30 mins

Total15 mins

Serves10to 12 servings

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup (120ml) apple cider vinegar

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (1.75 ounces; 50g)

  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic (about 1 medium clove)

  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume

  • Freshlyground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon celery seeds

For the Slaw:

  • 1 large head green cabbage (about 3 1/2 pounds), finely shredded on a mandoline or by hand (16 cups)

  • 2 large carrots (6 ounces; 170g), peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (1 cup)

  • 1 medium yellow onion (8 ounces; 225g), thinly sliced crosswise on a mandoline or by hand (1 cup)

  • 2/3 cup sugar (4.7 ounces; 133g)

  • 1/3 cup Diamond Crystal kosher salt (1.7 ounces; 48g); for table salt, use half as much by volume or the same weight

Directions

  1. For the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, sugar, oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, and celery seeds until sugar is dissolved.

    Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (6)

  2. For the Slaw: Combine cabbage, carrot, and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and toss to combine. Let stand 5 minutes, then transfer to a large colander and rinse thoroughly under cold running water.

    Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (7)

  3. Transfer vegetables to a salad spinner and spin dry. Alternatively, transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet lined with a triple layer of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and blot mixture dry with more towels. Return to large bowl.

    Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (8)

  4. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss to coat. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and sugar.

    Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (9)

Special Equipment

Mandoline (optional)

Read More

  • Lexington-Style Red Coleslaw
  • Mustardy Coleslaw
  • Tangy Apple Coleslaw
  • Jalapeño Coleslaw
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegetarian Salads
  • Vegan
  • Vegan Salads
  • Dairy-free
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
132Calories
4g Fat
25g Carbs
2g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10to 12
Amount per serving
Calories132
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 0g2%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1788mg78%
Total Carbohydrate 25g9%
Dietary Fiber 3g11%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 51mg253%
Calcium 76mg6%
Iron 0mg3%
Potassium 319mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you use regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

For every 2 cups of sliced cabbage, mix it with about a teaspoon of salt. Kenji Lopez- Alt also found it was beneficial to add a teaspoon of sugar too. Both salt and sugar promote osmosis, which draws out any water from the cabbage. And the sugar can balance out some of the bitterness in the cabbage.

What is amish coleslaw made of? ›

CABBAGE, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG YOLKS [EGG YOLKS, SALT], HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD [WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SPICES], WATER, SALT), FRUCTOSE, SUGAR, CARROTS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GLUCONO DELTA LACTONE, PEA FIBER, ERYTHORBIC ACID (TO ...

How to make coleslaw less vinegary? ›

  1. If you have added too much vinegar to your recipe, don't panic. There are some simple ways to balance the acidity and save your dish. ...
  2. - Add some sugar or honey to the dish. ...
  3. - Add some baking soda to the dish. ...
  4. - Add some dairy products to the dish. ...
  5. - Add some herbs or spices to the dish.
Mar 19, 2021

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Is it OK to use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? ›

According to Burdeos, if you're going to be using it for cooking, white vinegar can be successfully substituted for apple cider vinegar. Just note that it will taste slightly different and obviously won't have that hint of apple flavor if that's also what you're after.

What can I use if I don't have apple cider vinegar? ›

Freshly squeezed lemon juice or pre-squeezed or bottled lemon juice can be an easy substitute for apple cider vinegar, especially for salad dressings and marinades, as lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are both fruity and acidic. Use a 1:1 ratio of lemon juice to apple cider vinegar.

Why is my coleslaw so bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Like the cabbage, these veggie add-ins can also become breeding grounds for bacteria when left unrefrigerated. Coleslaw dressing often includes vinegar that acidulates the mixture, making it a less hospitable environment for those pesky bacteria. But unfortunately, it's not enough to halt bacterial growth completely.

Why do you put salt on cabbage for coleslaw? ›

Salting the cabbage, carrot, and onion purges excess moisture that would otherwise turn the slaw into a soupy mess. Including sugar (another osmosis-inducing ingredient) balances the flavor. Limiting the purge to five minutes keeps the cabbage crunchy.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

If you're in the mood for something creamy, sweet, and tangy, coleslaw is an excellent option. Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why did Chick Fil A stop selling coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

What is Zaxby's coleslaw made of? ›

Fresh diced green cabbage and carrots with specialty dressing, made in-house daily. Small (8 oz.) serves 2.

What happens if you have too much vinegar? ›

Furthermore, there can be side effects of taking too much vinegar at once in concentrated form, including stomach upset and irritation of the esophagus. Its high acid content can erode tooth enamel.

What balances out vinegar? ›

For more pronounced sour balance issues, try honey, sugar, or cream and if all that fails a pinch of bicarbonate of soda will bring some alkaline to the dish to neutralise the acidity. For dishes that are a bit too tart, use sugar, honey or maple syrup to tone down the flavour.

How to stop homemade coleslaw from going watery? ›

Salting the cabbage should be step one of any coleslaw recipe. With the shredded cabbage in a colander, mix in a tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage till it's evenly distributed. The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness.

What can I add to store bought coleslaw to make it taste better? ›

<br/><br/>Adding horse radish or onion or celery seeds or bacon bits or some other tasty flavors to make it your own is a really good idea.

Should cabbage be washed before making coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

Why soak cabbage in salt water? ›

The salt pulls moisture out of the cabbage, seasons it, and leaves you with a super-crunchy texture that isn't raw or tough-tasting. Rinse! Rinse well to purge the salt.

Can you use regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for pickles? ›

Don't have ACV in your pantry? Try it with white vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or even a blend of different vinegars. Dill: I love dill pickles so I used fresh dill in this recipe. Fresh dill works best in this recipe to really infuse the flavor into the pickling solution for the cucumbers to soak up.

Can you use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for broth? ›

Then roast the bones in a hot oven till they get lovely and dark -- this accomplishes two things: enhanced flavor due to caramelization and cracked bones. Now you're ready for the vinegar and water to simmer. Do you have to use apple cider vinegar in your bone broth? No -- any acid will do.

Can you substitute vinegar for apple cider vinegar for cleaning? ›

Both ACV and white vinegar are effective natural cleaners. ACV doesn't smell as harsh as white vinegar, but since white vinegar is slightly more acidic than ACV, it's a stronger cleaning agent.

Can I use white vinegar in place of white wine vinegar? ›

In addition to being an excellent household cleaner, distilled white vinegar can serve as a white wine vinegar replacement. The base ingredient of distilled white vinegar is grain alcohol, so its acidity can seem harsh without the floral, fruity flavors of white wine.

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