Sensational Slaws

Updated June 06, 2008
Caitlin Bensel

Coleslaw is the salad of choice at most barbecue joints and cookouts and is so much more than shredded cabbage.

Start Slideshow

1 of 48

Broccoli-and-Arugula Salad

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Thom Driver.

Broccoli-and-Arugula Salad Recipe

Packaged broccoli slaw adds instant crunch and color to this salad. You can also toss it into stir-fries, use it to bulk up chili, or add it to quiche or casseroles for a veggie boost.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 48

Cashew, Coconut, and Cabbage Slaw

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Cashew, Coconut, and Cabbage Slaw Recipe

Refreshing the coconut flakes in a bit of coconut oil gives them a lovely sheen and makes the salad incredibly aromatic. The lime juice and zest bring the whole thing together.

3 of 48

Colorful Collard Slaw

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Colorful Collard Slaw Recipe

Our crunchy coleslaw, made with apples, thinly sliced collards, and carrots, can be prepared a day ahead; toss with dressing right before serving.

Advertisement

4 of 48

Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw

Credit: Con Poulos; Styling: Jeffrey W. Miller

Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe

Fruit juices, oil, and sugar combine to make a delicious and flavorful dressing for red cabbage and shredded carrots.

5 of 48

Mango-Jalapeño Slaw

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Mango-Jalapeño Slaw Recipe

Serve this fruity slaw on the side, or pile it onto your burrito bowl for more texture. Buying pre-shredded coleslaw saves you time better spent cooking.

6 of 48

Broccoli-Apple Slaw

Credit: Rob Culpepper; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Broccoli-Apple Slaw Recipe

Whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, horseradish, sugar, lemon rind, and salt for a creamy sauce. Then add apple, onion, and broccoli slaw for the crunchy base.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 48

Napa Cabbage-and-Sweet Pepper Slaw

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Napa Cabbage-and-Sweet Pepper Slaw Recipe

Put this on your pulled pork sandwich and you'll never go back to regular coleslaw again.

8 of 48

Kale-and-Blueberry Slaw with Buttermilk Dressing

Credit: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Kale-and-Blueberry Slaw with Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

We like fresh tarragon in this creamy, zippy dressing, but other herbs work just as well.

9 of 48

Bacon and Brussels Sprout Slaw

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Bacon and Brussels Sprout Slaw Recipe

Crunchy, creamy, tangy slaws add a welcome contrast to the heartier dishes.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 48

Pickled Onion Slaw

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Pickled Onion Slaw Recipe

A lightly pickled onion makes for a great flavor-addition to this classic slaw.

11 of 48

Creamy Carrot-and-Broccoli Slaw

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Creamy Carrot-and-Broccoli Slaw Recipe

Prepared slaw mix has gone beyond traditional cabbage to include shaved broccoli and even Brussels sprouts as the base, making it a great quick side for busy weeknights. Broccoli slaw is as endlessly adaptable as any package of mixed greens: Try a creamy yogurt dressing, or opt for a vinaigrette, like sesame-ginger, warm bacon-and-shallot, or curry-and-cumin.

12 of 48

Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Creamy Black Pepper Coleslaw Recipe

Cutting the cabbage coarsely gives the dish a different look from shredded-cabbage slaws. A full teaspoon of black pepper lends pleasant warm heat without overpowering. Make the dish up to a day ahead if you like--the veggies will stay crisp and the flavors will meld as the slaw chills.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 48

Purple Cabbage Slaw

Purple Cabbage Slaw Recipe

This ultra-simple slaw blends purple cabbage, rice vinegar, and mint for a burger-topper you didn't expect would be so good.

14 of 48

Smoky-Spiced Slaw

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Smoky-Spiced Slaw Recipe

A little chipotle pepper in the dressing lends smoky heat to the dish. A touch of sugar and tangy lime juice balance the pleasant bitterness of radicchio. You can make this slaw up to a day ahead. The radicchio will soften a little as it chills, but the broccoli and cabbage stay crunchy.

15 of 48

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans Recipe

Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts are the perfect base to this lemony dressing. Top with apples, cheese, and pecans for a creamy, yet crunchy contrast.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 48

Creamy Slaw

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Creamy Slaw Recipe

This will be your new go-to slaw recipe. With a creamy mayo and vinegar base, it's the perfect addition to your summer table.

17 of 48

Confetti Slaw

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Confetti Slaw Recipe

You might be tempted to buy the prepackaged coleslaw mix, but slicing your own vegetables makes for a better and fresher tasting (not to mention customizable) slaw.

18 of 48

Broccolini Slaw

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Broccolini Slaw Recipe

Instead of cabbage, this quick slaw gets its crunch from fresh carrots, beets, and Broccolini. Serve with simply baked fish or as an alternative to coleslaw with hamburgers or barbecue.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 48

Cilantro-Cabbage Slaw

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Linda Hirst

Cilantro-Cabbage Slaw Recipe

A simple dressing of oil, lime juice, salt, pepper, and sugar is the flavorful topper to this cabbage, onion, and cilantro mixture.

20 of 48

Collard Slaw

Credit: Photography: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Torie Cox.

Collard Slaw Recipe

Collards bring a new bite to your classic slaw. Plus, celery seed and sesame seed add a new nuttiness you might not expect.

21 of 48

Brussels Sprout-and-Leek Slaw with Bacon and Pecans

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman

Brussels Sprout-and-Leek Slaw with Bacon and Pecans Recipe

A sprinkle of bacon, toasted pecans, and a sweet sauce makes for a delectable savory side dish.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 48

Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

Credit: Quentin Bacon; Styling: Anghard Bailey

Jalapeño-Lime Slaw Recipe

This citrusy take on coleslaw is fresh and pleasantly spicy, an ideal side dish or burger or brat topping.

23 of 48

Peach-Ginger Slaw

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Annette Joseph

Peach-Ginger Slaw Recipe

Turn coleslaw into a special summer treat with the addition of chopped fresh peaches, pecans, pepper jelly, and pecans.

24 of 48

Creamy Lime Slaw

Credit: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Dan Becker

Creamy Lime Slaw Recipe

Add more zesty, fresh flavor to creamy slaw with lime juice, lime zest and cilantro.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 48

Jicama Slaw

Credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Jicama Slaw Recipe

In addition to shredded cabbage and bell pepper, this coleslaw features thinly sliced jicama—a root vegetable with a thin brown skin and a crisp white flesh. It has a sweet nutty flavor that’s good both raw and cooked.

26 of 48

Celery Root Slaw

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

Celery Root Slaw Recipe

A bistro classic, slaw is among the most widely embraced applications for this peppery root. Like many greats, the dish's appeal is in its simplicity--a tangy dressing matched with crisp veggie, polished with parsley.

27 of 48

Santa Fe Slaw

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Santa Fe Slaw Recipe

This Southwestern-style slaw features shredded cabbage along with torn spinach, shredded jicama, tomatoes, and chipotle peppers.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 48

Cabbage Slaw

Credit: Levi Brown; Styling: Thom Driver

Cabbage Slaw Recipe

Get back to the basics with this easy slaw featuring thinly sliced radishes and fresh mint. Instead of a creamy dressing, it’s tossed with a citrusy vinaigrette.

29 of 48

Cabbage and Apple Slaw

Credit: Beatriz Da Costa

Cabbage and Apple Slaw Tout

Bring fruit to the table as a surprise ingredient in this colorful cole slaw recipe. The crunch of the ripe apple perfectly complements the bite of the crisp cabbage. Chill before serving to let the flavors blend.

30 of 48

Crunchy Buttermilk Coleslaw

Crunchy Buttermilk Coleslaw Recipe

Creamy buttermilk and fragrant fresh ginger lend bold flavor to this crunchy side. It's the perfect foil to spicy barbecue sauces.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 48

Crunchy Broccoli Slaw

Crunchy Broccoli Slaw Recipe

Making eating vegetables fun by loading broccoli florets with crumbled bacon, red onion, raisins, honey, and white balsamic vinegar. Hope for leftovers with this dish–it's even better the next day.

32 of 48

Chipotle Coleslaw

Credit: Leo Gong; Styling: Karen Shinto

Chipotle Coleslaw Recipe

Touched with a tad of smoky heat, and sweetened with a spoonful of molasses, this savory slaw is the ideal topping for a pulled pork sandwich.

33 of 48

Carrot-Pineapple Slaw

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Carrot-Pineapple Slaw Recipe

Pineapple, raisins, and carrots combine for a sweet, mellow treat that looks like a burst of sunshine on the plate.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 48

Broccoli Slaw

Broccoli Slaw Recipe

This sweet-and-crunchy broccoli slaw is a terrific dish to take to a potluck after a busy day because you can make it the night before.

35 of 48

Asian Coleslaw

Asian Coleslaw Recipe

A savory combination of crunchy cabbage and crisp daikon radish dressed with a creamy, Asian-inspired dressing, this coleslaw is a killer accompaniment for grilled pork or fish.