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This easy vinegar coleslaw recipe is a refreshing side dish that pairs well with veggie burgers, sloppy joes, skewers, and more!
Finding a good easy coleslaw recipe is deceptively difficult. Over the years, we’ve tried out so many that have been too oily, too cabbage-y, you name it. Finally, we’ve found one we enjoy, this easy coleslaw recipe with vinegar inspired by the “Fresh” cookbook by Jennifer Houston and Ruth Tal. We’ve enjoyed the “fresh” take on meatless eating, based on recipes from the restaurants with the same name (located in Toronto, unfortunately for us!).
Here we adapted this easy vinegar coleslaw recipe from their healthy coleslaw recipe, and found it to be flavorful, delicious, and yes, fresh! It’s a great side to pair with lentil Sloppy Joes or burgers for a simple meal.
What is vinegar coleslaw?
The main ingredients for this easy coleslaw recipe with vinegar are red onion, red and green cabbage, and celery. Although this is a simple recipe, the mix of these fresh vegetables make for a light coleslaw recipe that won’t weigh you down.
Unlike many slaw recipes, this vinegar based coleslaw tastes best right away and doesn’t need any time in the fridge to let the flavors combine. The tangy vinaigrette easily soaks into the cabbage, making this a great dish to whip up at the last minute. It’s also alternative to the mayo-based creamy coleslaw dressing, for potlucks where food sits out on a table for a few hours in the sun.
Want a different variation on slaw? Try our Red Cabbage Slaw, Creamy Coleslaw, or Broccoli Slaw instead!
Notes on serving this slaw
Serve your homemade vinegar coleslaw with veggie burgers, skewers, and any other summer dishes you enjoy. This recipe serves four to six people and can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd.
If you don’t plan on serving this slaw right away, we recommend prepping the vegetables and dressing ahead of time and storing them separately. Then, when you’re ready to serve simply mix everything together and dig in!
Dietary notes
This vinegar coleslaw recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and plant-based.
Easy Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe
This easy vinegar coleslaw recipe is a refreshing summer side dish that pairs well with veggie burgers, sloppy joes, skewers, and more!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 head green cabbage (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 head red cabbage (about 4 cups)
- 3 stalks celery
- 1 red onion
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon dill
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice the cabbage and measure out 8 cups. Thinly slice the onion and the celery.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, cider vinegar, dill, chili powder, and kosher salt. Whisk in the olive oil tablespoon by tablespoon until a creamy emulsion forms.
- In a large bowl, toss the cabbage, red onion, and celery with the dressing. Add ground black pepper to taste, and additional salt as necessary. Serve immediately. (Note: The slaw is best served the day that it is made; leftovers do not save well. One idea is to only add dressing to the vegetables that you plan to eat.)
Notes
Inspired by Fresh
tastes great. you guys totally know how to cook
I made it yesterday, with a slight modification on vinegar as I did not have any rice vinegar and served it paired with zucchini blinis, some ewe yogurt and fresh herbs and a simple carott salad for a healthy dinner. It was pretty good, thanks!
I made this last night to go along with your two-bean sloppy joe’s recipe, as suggested. Really enjoyed it! I didn’t have any rice vinegar, so I just used all cider vinegar and it tasted just fine.
My mom always made coleslaw when I was a kid and I just cringed at the amount of creamy dressing involved. I recently had a similar coleslaw to the one in your post – something lighter and less rich – and I fell in love. This recipe looks great. I never would have thought of adding chili powder! Great idea to boost flavour :)
Beautiful photos :)
Thanks! We’ll have to check yours out too :)
I love slicing apart a head of red cabbage, as the inside is like a glorious maze woven of nature. Every head looks so different and the color is lustrous and rich.
I’ve loved cabbage salad since I was a little kid. Even more so now, with the love of kale and other crunchy things to add to it.
That looks crunchy, fresh and pretty.
It looks very fresh and pretty!
This looks amazing! I love slaw and this one looks particularly good; I’ve never thought of adding chili powder, but I can’t wait to try it. What a delightful kick :)