Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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This Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe is easy to make in just 10 minutes, it tastes extra fresh and light, and it can work great as a zesty side dish or as a topping for tacos, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (1)

Guys, I’ve got the yummiest fish taco recipe comin’ your way tomorrow.

But first — we’ve gotta talk about this coleslaw.♡

It’s my go-to, back-pocket, easy-breezy, fresh-and-flavorful cilantro lime slaw recipe that I’ve made for years, and it somehow magically goes with just abouteverything. I make it most often just as a simple side dish when we’re grilling out in the summertime, especially anytime that BBQ sauce or Mexican food are involved. But it’s also fantastic served as a topping on pretty much any kind of tacos — fish, shrimp, carnitas, sofritas, barbacoa, chicken, you name it. It also works great as a topping for burgers or sandwiches, or mixed into buddah bowls or burrito bowls. Or hey — if you want to maybe add a protein and avocado in there too — this slaw can easily be transformed into an entree just like that.

Mostly though, I just love this cilantro lime slaw because it tastes super light and healthy, and it’s a breeze to make. Just pick up a bag of coleslaw mix at the store (or shred some cabbage and carrots and make your own from scratch). Pop a handful of simple ingredients to the blender to make the sauce. Toss everything together and then — voila! — the most delicious, creamy, tangy coleslaw can be ready to go in less than 10 minutes.

Let’s make some!

Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2)

Cilantro Lime Slaw Ingredients:

To make this recipe, you will need the following cilantro lime coleslaw ingredients:

  • Coleslaw mix:To make this recipe extra quick and easy, I recommend just picking up a bag of coleslaw mix at the store. Or you’re welcome to just shred some cabbage and carrots and make your own homemade coleslaw mix.
  • Greek yogurt:I like to make this slaw with (full-fat) plain Greek yogurt. But you are welcome to use mayo (or a 50/50 split with mayo) if you prefer. Or mix in some sour cream for an even tangier slaw.
  • Fresh cilantro:We will add lots to the coleslaw dressing, but feel free to also stir in some (larger) chopped cilantro leaves to the finished slaw too.
  • Green onions:We will just add the green parts.
  • Lime juice:Freshly-squeezed, please.
  • Garlic:A few cloves of fresh garlic. Or you can sub in a teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Seasonings:Just salt, pepper and cumin.
  • (Optional) Jalapeño or Serrano Pepper:I love adding in a seeded chile pepper for a little extra heat. Or, if you would like a significantly spicier slaw, leave in the seeds. :)

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How To Make Coleslaw:

To make this easy coleslaw recipe, simply…

  1. Make the coleslaw dressing:Combine the Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, pepper, jalapeño (if using), green onions and garlic in a blender or food processor, and pulse brieflyuntil the mixture is combined. (Or alternately, if you would rather not use a blender to make the coleslaw dressing recipe, you can just finely-chop the ingredients and then stir everything together.)
  2. Toss everything together. In a large bowl, toss the coleslaw mix with the dressing until combined.
  3. Serve.Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to1 day.

Full instructions in the recipe below.

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Possible Variations:

Want to mix things up with this homemade coleslaw recipe? Feel free to:

  • Use a different creamy base:If you love a good mayo-based coleslaw, feel free to use mayo in place of Greek yogurt, or do a 50/50 blend. Or for an even tangier slaw, feel free to use sour cream in place of Greek yogurt, or do a 50/50 blend.
  • Make it sweeter:For a slightly sweeter slaw, feel free to mix 1-2 tablespoons of honey into the coleslaw dressing.
  • Make it smokier:For a smokier slaw, add 1 chipotle pepper in adobe sauce to the dressing. (It’s so good!!)
  • Add avocado:Adding in some avocado is always a good idea. ;)
  • Add extra veggies:If you would like to gussy up the coleslaw mix with extra veggies, feel free to add in some thinly-slicedbell peppers, red onions, jicama, and/or radishes.
  • Add nuts:For some extra crunch, try adding a handful of pepitas or sunflower seeds to this slaw too!

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Ways To Serve This Coleslaw:

As I mentioned above, this cilantro lime slaw recipe can be served any number of ways! Some of my favorites include…

  • Easy side dish:This slaw tastes great on its own as an easy side dish, especially with Mexican or Thai food, or when served with any kind of grilled meats or veggies.
  • Fish tacos:I most often make some form of this slaw to serve on fish tacos. (Stay tuned for a new recipe tomorrow!)
  • Burgers/BBQ/etc:This slaw works great as a topping for burgers, bbq sandwiches, sloppy joes, and many other kinds of sandwiches/slider.

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Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (7)

Cilantro Lime Slaw

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.8 from 58 reviews

  • Author: Ali
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Description

This Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe is easy to make in just 10 minutes, it tastes extra fresh and light, and it can work great as a zesty side dish or as a topping for tacos, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1cup plain Greek yogurt*
  • 1/2 cup tightly-packed fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 3 green onions(just the green parts)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • (optional) 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, stemmed and cored
  • 1 (14-ounce) bag cole slaw mix*(about 78 cups)

Instructions

  1. Combine the Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, black pepper, green onions, garlic and jalapeño (if using) in a blender or food processor*. Pulse briefly a few times until the mixtures is combined.
  2. Place the cole slaw mix in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the sauce on top of the cole slaw, then toss until the mixture is evenly combined. Season with extra pepper and/or lime juice if needed.
  3. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Notes

*Greek yogurt:I used plain full-fat Greek yogurt for this recipe. But if you prefer a mayo-based slaw, you are welcome to use mayo instead, or a 50/50 blend. Or you could do a blend with sour cream if you would like an even tangier slaw.

*Cole slaw mix:If you would like to make homemade cole slaw mix, just combine about 7 cups of shredded cabbage (green, red, or a mix) and 1 cup of shredded carrots.

*Skip The Blender:If you would like to skip the blender/food processor step, you’re also welcome to make this coleslaw dressing recipe entirely by hand. Just finely chop the cilantro, jalapeño (if using), green onions and garlic, and whisk them all together with the other dressing ingredients until combined.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

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posted on July 1, 2019 by Ali

4th of July / Memorial Day / Labor Day, Gluten-free, Mexican-Inspired, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

87 Comments »

Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

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 to make coleslaw Mary Berry? ›

Meanwhile, to make the coleslaw, measure the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard and garlic into a large bowl. Mix and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the cabbage, carrots, celery and spring onions and toss to coat everything well. Spoon into a serving bowl.

Why is coleslaw a thing? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

When should coleslaw be made? ›

(If you're making this more than an hour or two ahead of your party, save a little dressing to toss with the salad just before serving.) Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Sugar: KFC's dressing is definitely sweet, so don't skimp on the sugar. It's a huge part of what makes this KFC coleslaw recipe work. Lemon juice and white vinegar: Balance the sweetness from the sugar with these acidic ingredients. Lemon juice adds brightness, and white vinegar adds a bold tang.

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.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

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.

Why did Chick-fil-A get rid of 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 race invented coleslaw? ›

Coleslaw (from the Dutch term koolsla meaning 'cabbage salad'), also known as cole slaw, or simply as slaw, is a side dish consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing or condiment, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise. This dish originated in the Netherlands in the 18th century.

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

Like the cabbage, these veggie add-ins can also become breeding grounds for bacteria when left unrefrigerated. Coleslaw dressing often includes vinegar that acidulates the mixture, making it a less hospitable environment for those pesky bacteria. But unfortunately, it's not enough to halt bacterial growth completely.

Is it best to make coleslaw the night before? ›

This classic coleslaw recipe is also the simplest, with a light, creamy, tangy-sweet dressing spiked with celery seeds. For the best coleslaw, make it a few hours ahead and refrigerate it to allow all the flavors to marry and soak into the cabbage.

What is KFC's coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste with a creamy texture. The coleslaw is made with shredded cabbage, carrots, and onions, and is dressed with a sweet and tangy dressing that includes vinegar, sugar, and a blend of spices.

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.

Is cabbage slaw the same as cole slaw? ›

Coleslaw (from the Dutch term koolsla meaning 'cabbage salad'), also known as cole slaw, or simply as slaw, is a side dish consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing or condiment, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise. This dish originated in the Netherlands in the 18th century.

What counts as a slaw? ›

What is slaw? Slaw is a cold salad commonly made from sliced or chopped raw vegetables, especially cabbage or carrots, mixed with a dressing made with mayonnaise or vinegar. It often includes other seasonings and ingredients, such as onions and apples.

What is slaw short for? ›

Slaw is shorthand for coleslaw, a side dish or salad that always includes cabbage and sometimes other shredded vegetables. Some slaw is dressed with vinaigrette and other types have a creamy or mayonnaise-based dressing.

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