Winter Coleslaw

For a quick, fresh and simple side dish look no further than this Winter Coleslaw. Crisp seasonal vegetables are combined with crunchy nuts and sweet raisins in a creamy dressing. Since it goes with literally anything and everything, this is a slaw recipe you'll keep coming back to.

If you love to eat salad the whole year round it can be hard to find fresh veggies that 'feel' seasonal during the colder months. I am just not a fan of tomato salads in January!

Since I love coleslaw with an embarrassing passion, I wanted to make a version which uses wintery red cabbage as a base.

Bursting with veggies - this is a great addition to any table. It can also be made, dressed and served in less than 15 minutes!

Why You Should Make This Winter Coleslaw

• This winter cabbage salad is full of goodness and an easy way to pack more veggies into your diet.

• This recipe is great for feeding a crowd. And you can easily double or treble it.

• It can also be made in advance if you're entertaining, making it great for parties. My Fall Salad with Delicata Squash, Kale and Apple is another easy salad if you have guests over.

How to Make the best Winter Slaw

This winter cabbage salad is a really simple dish to prepare and get on the table. You literally chop the veggies, add the dressing, nuts and raisins and toss well!

But there are a few tips and tricks and to make the best possible salad.

• Take your time when preparing the slaw and shred or slice the vegetables finely. Nobody will thank you for large chunks of cabbage or onion.

• I usually chop the cabbage by hand but if you're short of time its fine to use ready grated carrots and ready chopped cabbage. If you have a food processor you can also use that to shred everything faster.

• Although this dish can be prepared just before serving, winter slaw does benefit from being given some resting time. Prepare this salad earlier in the day then pop into the fridge. This allows the vegetables in the salad to meld together with the dressing.

Is Coleslaw good for you?

Any dish that packs a rainbow of colored vegetables into our diets is a winner in my book. This winter slaw not only tastes better than store bought alternatives, but you have the added bonus of being in total control over the ingredients you put into it!

Homemade coleslaw does not contain any excess salt, you need only season to taste. Furthermore, there are no refined sugars in this salad, instead the sweetness comes from the dried raisins and just a drizzle of honey

Variations

Despite it's name, winter slaw salad is actually a year round winner, as enjoyable to eat in summer as during the winter months.

Red cabbage adds wonderful colour to this winter slaw. But substitute a green cabbage if you would prefer. And experiment with diffferent varieties. Savoy or Napa cabbage give a different texture and color.

I have used red onion as they have a milder flavor to a yellow onion. A good substitution would be a green onion or banana shallots.

The pecan nuts add a lovely crunch. But you could definitely add other nuts instead. Hazelnuts and walnuts would both work well in this dish. Or just leave them out if you prefer.

I have added some dried raisins for just a touch of sweetness. You could also use golden sultanas or cranberries. Feel free to leave them out too, though if you're not keen on dried fruits.

How to serve

This winter slaw is a great tasting and versatile salad.

• If you're having a party, this is a great dish to serve alongside other side salads and platter of cold cuts. Set it out and let everyone help themselves.

• An absolute classic to serve alongside slaw, my Instant Pot Pork Butt makes a fabulous hands off meal for a crowd.

• Serve this zingy salad alongside my Honey Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs. Winter cabbage salad tastes great with any grilled meat, burgers or hot dogs.

• It also makes a delicious filling for any sandwich. Try it with chicken, ham or cheese for added crunch.

• Serving up steak, chicken or fish tacos? Pile them high with this crisp and crunchy salad.

Can I make Winter Coleslaw ahead of time?

This dish can be made ahead of time. You can cut up the salad vegetables and prepare the coleslaw dressing up to 24 hours ahead of serving.

However, I would recommend storing the vegetables and salad dressing in separate airtight containers and placing them in the refrigerator overnight. This will stop the salad dressing from splitting and the vegetables from becoming watery.

When ready to serve the winter cabbage salad, stir the dressing well, then pour over the vegetables and add in the pecan nuts and raisins. Toss everything well to combine and serve.

Can I Freeze Coleslaw?

Coleslaw with a creamy dressing is unfortunately not suitable for freezing as the sauce will break down when being defrosted. This is definitely a dish that is best served fresh!

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This recipe has been shared with the #cookblogshare community, hosted this week by Karen and Lavender and Lovage