Recipe Highlights
Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing is certainly one of my favourite salads to make when mates come over. It’s make-ahead pleasant and nice for internet hosting. It additionally travels nicely, so I like bringing it to potluck events and cookouts. It’s all the time a crowd pleaser.
Right here’s why I preserve coming again to this recipe:
- Mayo-free, gentle, and crunchy
- Fast to prep, with no cooking
- Versatile and customizable with what’s within the fridge
In the event you love Japanese salads, attempt my Japanese Potato Salad, Spinach Ohitashi, and Soba Noodle Salad subsequent!
What’s Asian Coleslaw?
Asian coleslaw can be known as Japanese coleslaw or Japanese slaw, will get its title from a Japanese-style sesame dressing that swaps mayonnaise.
The dressing is made from toasted sesame oil, delicate vinegar, and sugar. The result’s a lighter, tangier tackle conventional Western coleslaw.
Components for Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing
- Purple and inexperienced cabbage
- Carrot
- Cilantro (coriander)
- Inexperienced onion/scallion
For the Dressing
- Apple cider vinegar
- Toasted sesame oil
- Toasted white sesame seeds
- Sugar
- Salt and black pepper
Discover the printable recipe with measurements beneath.
The best way to Make Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing
- Shred the cabbage. Core the pink and inexperienced cabbage, then thinly shred, wash, and dry them nicely.
- Prep the greens. Julienne the carrot, chop the cilantro, and thinly slice the inexperienced onion.
- Make the dressing. Whisk apple cider vinegar, sugar, toasted sesame oil, salt, pepper, and sesame seeds till the sugar dissolves.
- Toss every part collectively. Add the cabbage, carrot, cilantro, and inexperienced onions/scallions to the dressing in a big bowl.
- Chill and serve. Refrigerate for half-hour so the flavors meld, then serve chilly.
Nami’s Recipe Suggestions
Hold the following tips in thoughts for the most effective outcomes each time.
- No julienne peeler? No downside – Peel the carrot into skinny sheets with an everyday peeler, then stack and slice them into skinny strips.
- Dry the cabbage fully – Leftover water on the leaves dilutes the dressing, so shake or spin it dry earlier than tossing. I exploit a salad spinner to dry it nicely.
- Alter when you swap sweeteners – Sugar mellows the vinegar’s sharp acidity, so don’t skip it. In the event you swap in a unique sweetener, style as you go to maintain the steadiness proper.
- Let the slaw relaxation – Chilling it for half-hour lets the dressing’s salt draw somewhat moisture from the cabbage. This tenderizes it barely and melds the flavors.
Make Forward Suggestions
- Prep the veggies and dressing forward – Retailer them individually within the fridge for as much as 2 days, then toss half-hour earlier than serving.
- Dressing it hours or a day earlier than serving? Salt the cabbage (1–2% of the cabbage weight), let sit 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water earlier than dressing. This retains the salad crisp as an alternative of watery as soon as it’s time to serve. Omit the dressing’s salt to compensate, adjusting to style earlier than serving.
Storage Suggestions
To retailer: Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 24 hours. This salad doesn’t freeze nicely, so it’s finest loved contemporary whereas the greens are nonetheless crunchy.
Anticipating leftovers to maintain longer? Use the salt-and-drain trick from Make Forward Suggestions above earlier than tossing with the dressing—it extends the fridge life to 2–3 days.
Variations
Be at liberty to combine and match based mostly on what you might have readily available.
- Add extra inexperienced. Toss in shredded broccoli stalk, shredded zucchini, napa cabbage, snap peas, snow peas, edamame, or contemporary mint for additional crunch and shade.
- Add extra pink. Strive pink bell pepper, pink onion, radishes, or thinly sliced apple for a pop of shade and sweetness.
- Add extra yellow. Yellow bell pepper, candy corn kernels, or peanuts deliver a brilliant, candy crunch.
- Swap the sweetener. Maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup all work rather than sugar—see Nami’s Recipe Suggestions above for balancing the swap.
- Add zing. Combine grated contemporary ginger with its juices into the dressing for a zesty kick.
What to Serve with Asian Coleslaw
This Asian slaw recipe brings crunch and tang that complement wealthy and grilled proteins. Listed below are my favourite pairings:
FAQ
Can I substitute rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar?
I haven’t examined rice vinegar on this recipe myself, so outcomes could range. Its acidity is milder, so attempt lowering the sugar barely. A splash of apple juice additionally helps restore the apple observe and preserve the steadiness.
Is that this coleslaw vegan?
Sure, this Asian coleslaw recipe is solely plant-based as written. The one ingredient to double-check is the non-compulsory peanuts, when you’re serving anybody with allergic reactions.
Do I’ve to make use of cilantro?
No, go away it out when you’re not a fan. Cilantro provides a contemporary, citrusy observe that rounds out the dressing. This coleslaw holds collectively fantastic with out it.
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Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing
Earlier than You Begin
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This coleslaw wants half-hour to relaxation earlier than serving. In the event you plan to decorate it hours or a day earlier than serving, see Notes beneath.Collect all of the substances (see non-compulsory add-ins in Notes beneath).
To Lower the Greens
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Peel 1 carrot. Julienne into skinny strips with a julienne peeler. Lower the strips into 2-inch (5-cm) items if they’re very lengthy. Nami’s Tip: Peel the carrot into skinny sheets with an everyday peeler, then stack and slice them into skinny strips.
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Chop 1 bunch cilantro (coriander) into ½-inch (1.3-cm) items, measuring ½ cup chopped. Finely slice 1 inexperienced onion/scallion.
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Take away the core from ½ head pink cabbage and ½ head inexperienced cabbage. Thinly shred each with a pointy knife or cabbage slicer.
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Add the pink and inexperienced cabbage to a bowl or a salad spinner. Wash below chilly water, drain, and dry nicely, as extra moisture may dilute the dressing. Making it forward? Retailer the veggies in a bowl lined with wrap and refrigerate for as much as 2 days. Dressing it hours or a day forward? After drying nicely, salt the cabbage (1–2% of the cabbage weight), let it sit 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water (see Notes for more information). Put aside.
To Gown the Coleslaw
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Add the cabbage, carrot, cilantro, inexperienced onion, and non-compulsory add-ins to the bowl with the dressing. Toss the veggies and dressing nicely. Refrigerate for half-hour earlier than serving.Nami’s Tip: Resting permits the salt within the dressing to attract out some liquid from the cabbage. This tenderizes it barely and melds the flavors.
To Retailer
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Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 24 hours. Be aware: This salad would not freeze nicely, so it is best loved contemporary whereas the greens are nonetheless crunchy.
- ½ cup edamame – shelled
- ¼ pink bell pepper – sliced
- ¼ cup peanuts – shelled, peeled, toasted, and salted
Variations
- Add extra inexperienced. Toss in shredded broccoli stalk, shredded zucchini, napa cabbage, snap peas, snow peas, shelled edamame, or contemporary mint for additional crunch and shade.
- Add extra pink. Strive pink onion, radishes, candy pink peppers, or thinly sliced apple for a pop of shade and sweetness.
- Add extra yellow. Yellow bell pepper, candy corn kernels, or peanuts deliver a brilliant, candy crunch.
- Swap the sweetener. As an alternative of sugar, attempt maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup. Make sure you style and regulate the steadiness of acid to sweetness.
- Add zing. Combine grated contemporary ginger with its juices into the dressing for a zesty kick.
Make Forward Suggestions
- Prep veggies and dressing forward – Retailer individually for as much as 2 days, then gown half-hour earlier than serving.
- Dressing it hours or a day forward? Salt the cabbage (1–2% of the cabbage weight), let sit 10 minutes, then squeeze out the water earlier than dressing. Omit dressing’s salt to compensate. This trick extends the fridge life to 2–3 days.
Energy: 161kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 4g, Fats: 8g, Saturated Fats: 1g, Sodium: 82mg, Potassium: 488mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 2935IU, Vitamin C: 85mg, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 2mg
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Editor’s Be aware: This put up was initially revealed on February 23, 2011, up to date with new pictures in October 2017, and republished with extra useful data on July 26, 2026.
