Vinegar Based Coleslaw Recipe

Try this amazingly delicious and easy-to-make side dish for a Vinegar Based Coleslaw recipe at your next barbecue or backyard get-together!

If you’re looking for a ridiculously easy recipe for slaw, then look no further than this one.  It seems like vinegar coleslaw has been all the craze in the BBQ world in the last few years.  This tangy vegetable slaw is perfect when eaten by itself or when topped off on a smoked pulled pork or smoked brisket sandwich.

What Is Vinegar Coleslaw?

It’s a simple recipe consisting of a sweet and tangy vinegar-based dressing tossed with shredded vegetables and is served up as a side dish or on top of Barbecue style sandwiches.

Is It Bad For You

The pre-made store-bought version is loaded up with sugar and fat, however, this sweet and tangy homemade version is dairy-free and packed with fresh hand-cut vegetables that are low in calories.

What Kind of Vegetables Can I Use?

In a standard slaw, the most common vegetables are green cabbage and onions.  Here is what I like to put into my recipe as it will add more flavor:

• Green Cabbage
• Red Cabbage
• Red Onion
• Carrots
• Green Onions
• Cilantro

However, you could add these ingredients:

• Sliced red, green, yellow, or orange bell peppers
• Sliced spicy peppers, like jalapeños
• Thinly sliced kale or jicama.

Slicing the Vegetables

There are few ingredients in this recipe, along with the sweet and tangy vinegar-based dressing and it all starts with slicing the vegetables.

If you do not have a mandolin it is completely fine to slice things using a chef knife.  My rule of thumb for using a mandolin is when you start to get nervous you might cut yourself, just stop.

Slice the green cabbage in half and remove the core.  Slice in half again and then thinly slice it on a mandolin or using a very sharp chef knife.

Next, Slice the red cabbage in half and remove the core using a knife.  Slice in half again and then thinly slice it on a mandolin or using a very sharp chef knife.

Next, peel the carrots and thinly slice them on a mandolin using the shredded blade attachment.

Vinegar Coleslaw Dressing

Making the dressing for a vinegar coleslaw is very super easy.  A traditional vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.  Well, for me to maximize flavor we have to bring down that oil count to like 2 or even equal to 1 to the vinegar which will make the coleslaw much more flavorful.

• Add the vinegar, mustard, and sugar to a bowl.
• Whisk while slowly drizzling in the olive oil until emulsified and then finish with celery seed, salt, and pepper.

How to Make Vinegar Coleslaw

1. Add the vegetables to a large bowl.
2. Season with celery seed, salt, and pepper.

3. Pour in the dressing.
4. Toss using some tongs.

Making It Ahead of Time

If you make this vinegar coleslaw ahead of time and slice the vegetables super thin, it may not be perfect when you go to serve it several hours later or the next day.  If you plan on making it ahead of time I would recommend combining the vegetables and keeping the dressing separate right until you are ready to serve.

Recipe Chef Notes + Tips

How to Store: It is best to store this vinegar coleslaw recipe undressed and unseasoned covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  It can stay in the refrigerator undressed and unseasoned for up to 5 days.  When ready to serve simply pour the vinaigrette over top, season with salt and pepper, toss and serve. 

Also if you want to make it ahead of time, don’t plan on seasoning it to the end because if you salt the vegetable it will wilt super quick.

Now just know that when you shave vegetables super thin like I did in this recipe and apply an acid to it, like vinegar, it’s going to break down faster and become wilted or to put it simply, soggy.

You can substitute honey or agave for sugar in this recipe.

To save some time, If you don’t want to slice the cabbages and carrots yourself, then I suggest buying the pre-made slaw mix, it will work just as well.

Serve It With These BBQ Recipes

• Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich
• Smoked Chicken BBQ
• Blue Cheese Coleslaw
• Creamy Coleslaw
• Vegetable Dill Coleslaw
• Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs

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