Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

by Mindi Cherry

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Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (1)

With Summer in "full swing", it seems like we are grilling 3 or 4 times per week! While we have our old "standby" sides (like my cucumbers and onions recipe or even my baked sweet potato fries), sometimes you want something a little different and this spicyAsian coleslaw is just that!

Serve it as a side dish or you can even toss in some leftover grilled chicken or shrimp to make a complete meal! My mother makes a recipe very similar to this, only she throws in some cooked ramen noodles as well as (shelled) sunflower seeds

The peanut butter acts as both a flavoring and an emulsifier for the dressing but if you're allergic to nuts (or just don't love peanut butter), you could replace it with 2-3 tablespoons of any light-flavored oil. On the other end of the spectrum, if you really like peanuts, you can throw in some peanuts (whole or chopped) for some added crunch!

Just ½ teaspoon red pepper makes this quite spicy. If you're sensitive to heat, I suggest starting with even less or none at all (although honestly? I usually add a little more than that, but we like things spicy in my house).

You are going to want to make sure that you make this at least an hour before you want to serve it because you need time for the dressing to "break down" the cabbage so that it wilts a little bit!

Scroll down for the recipe!

Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (3)

Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (4)

Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe

This spicy Asian coleslaw recipe is really delicious and easy to make. Serve it as a side dish or toss in some chicken or shrimp to make a complete meal!

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Author: Mindi

Ingredients

For the Coleslaw

  • 6 cups cabbage finely shredded (one small head)
  • ¼ cup shredded carrots
  • ¼ cup red onion finely sliced
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced diagonally

For the Dressing

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons white or rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 garlic clove crushed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Pinch of sugar optional
  • Handful of fresh cilantro leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • To shred the cabbage, trim the core off of the end so that it sits steady without rolling around. Cut in half vertically and then cut each half in half again to make quarters. Remove any remaining core and thinly slice to make long, thin strands. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings. If the dressing is too tangy, add a pinch of sugar to balance it out. At this point, you can also add more of whatever you like. If you like more soy, add it. More vinegar? Add it! The beauty of these kinds of salads is that you can make them to suit your own tastes.

  • Once the dressing is done, add in the veggies and toss to thoroughly coat everything. Almost immediately, the cabbage will start to break down and wilt. Stir a few more times, cover and put in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes. If possible, give it a stir every 10 minutes or so.

  • Before serving, taste and adjust the seasonings again and add salt and/or pepper, if needed. Serve with extra green onions on top for garnish.

More Asian Dishes

  • Easy Asian Meatballs with Sauce
  • Sesame Baked Tofu Bites with Sriracha Mayo
  • Chicken Katsu Curry Recipe (with Video)
  • EasySweetandSour Tofu Recipe(Vegan)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laurie

    This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe with us at the Brag About It Link Party!
    Have a great weekend!
    ~Laurie

  2. CJ Huang

    Loving this twist on the usual cole slaw! I hope you can stop on by and share this or any other recipe with us on Five Friday Finds!

  3. Bridget - The Recipe Wench

    Ooooh! This looks great. I pinned it and definitely have plans for this coleslaw in the future! Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Inspire Me Mondays Link-Up!

  4. Michelle

    Mindi-
    I have a cabbage patch in my garden and I am excited to try this! Yum!
    Michelle

  5. Michelle - Jarrah Jungle

    Yummo this looks so good! I love the flavours of Asian food 🙂

  6. AnnMarie

    This looks so refreshing and perfect to eat in our 90 degree weather. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Pinned.

  7. Marie

    Omgosh, a coleslaw that doesn't include any ingredients I don't like! Yay! This sounds (and looks) absolutely awesome. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us at Merry Monday this week!

  8. Jessie @ The Acquired Sass

    Mmm, this is my favorite thing to eat at cookouts & potlucks, so I'm pinning this for sure. Stopping by from Wednesday Round-Up

Spicy Asian Coleslaw Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

FAQs

Why did Chick Fil A stop selling coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

How do you spice up store bought coleslaw? ›

Want a little spice? Maybe a little cayenne pepper. Try adding pickle juice from sweet gherkins and just a sprinkling more of sugar to offset the vinegar. The other types of pickles like dill and bread and butter, don't work very well, but sweet gherkins have the vinegar, sugar, and pickling spices….

How do you make coleslaw not watery? ›

To avoid watery slaw, salt and drain the cabbage before mixing. The challenge: Despite its simplicity, two things have always bothered us about coleslaw: the pool of watery dressing at the bottom of the bowl after a few hours, and the salad's sharpness, regardless of the kind or quality of vinegar used.

Why did Chic Fil A change their name to Chick-fil-A? ›

The capital 'A' stands for Grade A top quality, and it feeds into everything we do. It all began with our founder, S. Truett Cathy, naming his restaurants after his famous signature Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich (also known as the Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich).

Why is Chick-fil-A getting rid of the side salad? ›

In an effort to simplify and refresh our menu, we made the difficult decision to remove the Side Salad from our menus earlier this month,” the chicken chain said in a news release. “However, based on feedback, we've chosen to continue serving the Side Salad at participating restaurant locations.”

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Mayonnaise/Miracle Whip

Considering that most coleslaw recipes use mayonnaise, it's safe to assume that KFC does it as well. With its fat, its salt, and its slightly acidic taste, mayo is exactly what's needed to balance and enhance the vinegar, salt, and sugar found in coleslaw.

Which is healthier salad or coleslaw? ›

Classic coleslaw is full of shredded cabbage and carrots. The dressing, however, is made with mayonnaise and sugar. There is usually about ½ a cup of mayonnaise and usually a couple tablespoons of sugar. That adds up to more calories and more fat than you're probably looking for in a salad.

Is coleslaw good or bad for you? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

How to doctor up store bought cole slaw? ›

Sweeten coleslaw for enhanced flavor

Try a citrus slaw by adding orange juice to the sauce, or enhance the vegetables with raisins, chopped dried apricots, or fresh mandarin orange slices.

How do you make Jamie Oliver coleslaw? ›

Peel the onion and shallot, and slice as finely as you can, along with the cabbage, if using. Add these to the bowl of veg. In a separate bowl, mix half the lemon juice, a lug of extra virgin olive oil, yoghurt and mustard. Pick the herb leaves and chop, then stir into the dressing.

When should you not eat coleslaw? ›

How Long Does Coleslaw Last? Assuming that you're storing your coleslaw in the refrigerator — and haven't taken it out for a stretch of time and put it back in — coleslaw can safely last up to five days. However, it's important to remember that this is the maximum amount of time it should be kept.

Why did my coleslaw turn pink? ›

Too much ethylene gas: Ethylene gas is naturally created as certain fruits and veggies ripen, and it can cause your lettuce to turn pink. In particular, bananas, avocados and apples give off a lot of ethylene gas, so make sure your lettuce is stored away from them while in the refrigerator.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Yes, you can make coleslaw in advance. Making it a day before your event is a good idea, as the flavors will continue to meld and develop as it sits. That makes it perfect as a make-ahead potluck recipe.

Did Chick-fil-A get rid of coleslaw? ›

Do Chick-fil-A restaurants still have Coleslaw on the menu? Coleslaw was previously available as a menu item at Chick-fil-A® restaurants nationwide*. At this time, we don't have plans to bring this side item back to the menu, but it's our pleasure to offer the recipe so you can make it at home.

When did Chick-fil-A get rid of their coleslaw? ›

The side item, which debuted more than 50 years ago, was removed from the lineup in 2016, along with the chicken salad sandwich and spicy chicken biscuit.

What coleslaw was recalled? ›

The products being recalled are 14 oz President's Choice Colorful Coleslaw, Lot codes B318005 and B318006 (UPC code 0-6038322267-3), with Use-by date of 2019 DE 04 and 16 oz Marketside Tri-Color Coleslaw, Lot codes B318005 and B318006 (UPC code 6-81131-38748-4), with Best if Used by date DEC 04 2019, due to a possible ...

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

Whatever the reason for the formation, people familiar with the food item began tinkering with its name. For instance, the Latin-based cole was substituted for cold and the spelling variant slaugh was used with cold or cole. The name was also chopped to slaw or slaugh.

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