Healthy Coleslaw (No Mayo)

Coleslaw is a classic side dish, but this Healthy Coleslaw recipe without mayo is lighter than a traditional coleslaw recipe and an added bonus of being dairy free and vegan too. Still all the crunchy vegetables that you know and love from homemade coleslaw, but with a tangy olive oil based dressing, rather than mayo. It's lighter, fresher, ready in 10 minutes and a MUST at any picnic or BBQ.

Whilst I do enjoy a creamy mayo based coleslaw, I find it pretty heavy and I far prefer this lighter, no mayo coleslaw. There is still plenty of flavour from the dressing, but this slaw recipe is suitable for everyone with it being dairy free and egg free.

Homemade coleslaw is so easy to make - just chop up your veggies and mix together with this easy dressing. A side dish that everyone can enjoy - life is too short for bad coleslaw after all!

If you are looking for some other coleslaw recipes to try, then why not try our Best Homemade Coleslaw or Mexican Coleslaw, which is zesty and spicy and goes perfectly with tacos and burritos.

Why You Will Love It

Ingredients and Substitutions

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Cabbage - This is a red cabbage coleslaw, which adds lots of colour to the healthy coleslaw. You could swap it for a white cabbage, but it won't look as pretty.
• Carrot - These add extra crunch too. To add even more colour, add a mixture of orange, yellow and purple carrots.
• Spring onions (scallions) - You could use red onion, but we prefer the flavour of spring onions.
• Oil - This is where most of the coleslaw dressing comes from, so make sure to use a really good quality extra virgin olive oil, as you will be able to taste the difference.
• Vinegar - We love a vinegar based coleslaw. Instead of the mayo, this healthy coleslaw recipe has more of a vinaigrette. We used apple cider vinegar which is great for gut health.
• Maple syrup - A little touch of sweetness helps to cut through the vinegar flavour and balance it all out.
• Salt and pepper - Generously season.
• Mustard - We used Dijon mustard for the creaminess, but wholegrain would work too.
• Garlic - This is optional, but adds an extra kick of flavour.

Variations

Vegetables - We have kept the vegetables in this pretty classic with red and white cabbage, carrot and spring onion. They all add lots of colour, flavour and crunch, but you don't have to stop there.

Feel free to add and swap the vegetables you use, and use this side salad as an opportunity to clear your fridge out. You could use strips of bell pepper, grated courgette and even some diced cherry tomatoes. We also like adding grated apple for some extra sweetness.

Coleslaw dressing - We have gone for a vinaigrette based coleslaw dressing. However, if you did want it creamy, but lighter than using mayo, then you could use a Greek yogurt or creme fraiche instead.

Herbs - For some extra flavour without extra calories, add some fresh chopped coriander or parsley.

How to Make Healthy Coleslaw - Step by Step

1. Step 1: Shred the cabbage, grate the carrot and slice the spring onions (scallions) diagonally.

2. Step 2: Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Step 3: Put everything together in a large bowl and mix well.

4. Step 4: Serve.

Is This Coleslaw Healthy?

Well, anything with lots of colour and vegetables is always going to have plenty of nutrients in it and making your own homemade coleslaw means that you can control exactly what goes into it.

This coleslaw is still quite low in fat, despite not using mayo, because it uses olive oil. But it is healthy fat, and something that can definitely be part of a healthy and balanced diet.

This coleslaw also uses red cabbage, which is the healthier of the cabbages as it has more vitamin A and iron than green cabbage. Cabbage also has anti-inflammatory benefits, so that is a bonus too. One cup of cabbage also has about 85% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin K, which is essential to help with blood clotting. So much goodness from this veggie.

Coleslaw Dressing

Personally, I really dislike it when coleslaw is dripping in sauce, which is why I prefer this to traditional mayo based coleslaw. I think the sauce (whether mayo based or not) should lightly coat the vegetables and compliment them. It shouldn't be over-powering.

We made this vegan coleslaw dressing with a base of really good quality olive oil, mixed with apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic and seasoning. It's the perfect balance of flavours and a really simple but flavour packed dressing.

What to Serve with Healthy Coleslaw

This is such a versatile side dish, it goes with almost anything. We like making it for burger nights and serving it with our Cajun Chicken Burgers or Pork and Apple Burgers. It is quite a cooling side, so it goes well with Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken too.

Chicken and coleslaw is always a good match, so why not try it with our Lemon Rosemary Chicken.

Tuna Fish Cakes and Portobello Mushroom Pizzas are nice light dishes that this crunchy side pairs well with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe

Healthy Coleslaw (No Mayo)

By: Dannii Martin

Coleslaw is a classic side dish, but this No Mayo Coleslaw is healthier and an added bonus of being dairy free and vegan too.

Gluten Free

Low Carb

Vegan

4.84 from 31 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, British

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 103kcal

Allergens:

Mustard

Sulphites

Ingredients

• ▢ 0.5 White cabbage
• ▢ 0.5 Red cabbage
• ▢ 2 Carrots
• ▢ 6 Spring onion (Scallion)
• ▢ 6 tablespoon Olive oil
• ▢ 4 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Maple syrup
• ▢ 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ▢ 2 Garlic clove - crushed

Instructions

• Shred 0.5 White cabbage and 0.5 Red cabbage, grate 2 Carrots and slice the 6 Spring onion (Scallion) diagonally.
• Mix together 6 tablespoon Olive oil, 4 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Maple syrup, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 Garlic clove and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper in a bowl.
• Put everything together into a large bowl and mix well.

Recipe Tips

• Save yourself some time with the prep of this vegan coleslaw by putting all the vegetables in a food processor to shred them together.
• Feel free to swap or add the veggies that you use in this coleslaw. Anything chunky and crunchy works well.
• If you wanted to make a mayo based coleslaw for your guests, just divide the mixture into two bowls, and add mayo to half the dressing for one bowl.
• Add some extra flavour with some fresh herbs. Coriander, parsley and dill work well.
• If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can swap it for lemon juice. This actually adds a nice freshness to the slaw.
• Add some extra crunch to the finished dish with some seeds and crushed nuts.
• You can give this coleslaw a little kick of spice by stirring in some finely diced jalapeños.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2623IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.