Simple and packed with flavor, this healthy coleslaw is a great alternative to the typical mayonnaise slaw. It is made with a rainbow of vegetables for a dose of antioxidants. Best of all it’s also prebiotic and probiotic!
A Healthy Coleslaw
This salad was written as a follow-up recipe for honey fermented garlic. Honey fermented garlic is flavorful. Perfect for adding that extra bit of something to this dish.
If you haven’t tried fermenting before, then you really ought to try making garlic fermented honey. It is SO simple, reliable, and delicious. Perfect for beginners!
Antioxidants
Eating a rainbow of vegetables is a great way to make sure you’re getting a good dose of vitamins and minerals.
Red cabbage, colored peppers, carrots, and turmeric are antioxidant-rich. Turmeric also provides a beautiful yellow color and is packed with anti-inflammatory curcumin.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are foods that contain indigestible fibers. These are important for feeding the good bacteria in your gut and are vital for gut health and wellbeing.
Raw vegetables are a great, grain-free, source of prebiotic fiber. And the amount of prebiotic fiber is directly related to cooking time, with longer cooking times reducing the amount of fiber. So be sure to enjoy your raw veggies!
Probiotics
Salads are a great way to get a dose of probiotics and this coleslaw recipe is no exception. Here are a few options for sneaking a bit of probiotics into the dressing:
- Use garlic fermented honey (can I say it enough times?) Alternatively, raw, unpasteurized honey is also probiotic.
- Raw apple cider vinegar is also deliciously probiotic. Either make your own or buy vinegar with a mother.
- And because I’m a real fermentation foodie, I always have homemade Dijon mustard.
Immune-Boosting Zinc
If you need an immune boost, serve this healthy coleslaw with a handful of pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are really high in zinc, which is necessary for good immunity. Best of all, the vitamin C in the red pepper helps your body absorb zinc.
- Add 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds to your salad at the time of serving.
- Pumpkin seeds can be raw or roasted. Roasted seeds have a toasted nice flavor, but raw seeds will contain more healthy fats.
Picnic perfect
This healthy coleslaw is an excellent side dish for all sorts of meals. Our favorite way to eat it is with baked potatoes topped with baked beans. Yum! We also enjoy it with cheddar cheese as a sandwich filling.
However, it’s ideal for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues. Since it’s mayo-free, it won’t go off. And the flavor improves after sitting out for a few hours.
Healthy Coleslaw
This quick, mayonnaise-free, and healthy coleslaw is sure to be a favorite. Try it with garlic fermented honey for a burst of flavor and probiotics!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp honey (try garlic fermented honey, see notes)
- 1 Tbsp Dijon
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1/2 medium head of red cabbage
- 2 carrots
- 1 red pepper
- 4 spring onions
- 1-inch (2.5 cm) fresh turmeric (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the salad dressing ingredients in the bottom of a large bowl. Fermented honey isn’t nearly as sweet as regular honey. So use 1 Tbsp of regular honey or 3 Tbsp of fermented honey.
- Finely dice or grate the cabbage and carrots and spring onions. Dice the red pepper and spring onions. Peel and finely grate the fresh turmeric. If you are unable to find fresh turmeric, feel free to either skip it or include 1 tsp of turmeric powder.
- Toss the vegetables with the salad dressing. Serve immediately for a crisp salad. Alternatively, cover and let it marinate 1-2 hours prior.
Notes
- This recipe was designed to feature garlic fermented honey. However, it’s fine to use raw honey or skip the sweetness altogether.
- Because of the health risks associated with the consumption of raw honey, this recipe is not recommended for pregnant women, children under the age of 1 year, or anyone who may be immunocompromised.
Keywords: probiotic, honey garlic, mayonnaise free, healthy, gluten free, paleo, egg free, nut free, dairy free, spring, fall, winter
I’m big on creamy coleslaw, Irish style, but this recipe is great when we want something lighter or have no mayo on hand.
★★★★
It is my favourite coleslaw!
made this coleslaw 3 times over the past month and the recipe is really simple and delicious
★★★★★
Thanks!