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Italian Coleslaw

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41 minutes 16 Comments

Inspired by the flavours of Italy, this coleslaw with Italian dressing is a simple twist on a classic slaw and perfect for a summer cookout.

Colelsaw with Italian Dressing

I’ve always been a huge fan of coleslaw–that is if it doesn’t include mayo. I’ve always preferred a vinegar-based, tangy slaw and this Italian coleslaw fits the bill perfectly.

I love a classic Italian salad dressing; my version uses dried basil as it has a strong flavour that stands up well to the vinaigrette.

There are many things I love about coleslaw but what I love the most is that it gets better after sitting in the fridge overnight. It’s the perfect dish to prep ahead of time if you have people coming over. 

I love to eat coleslaw on its own as a side, but it would also be pretty delicious served on a pulled pork sandwich. 

Coleslaw with Italian Dressing

How do you make a vinegar-based salad dressing for coleslaw?

This recipe is based off of one that my great grandmother used to make–I have her handwritten recipe! She made a coleslaw with a boiled dressing, which is the method I’ve always used when making coleslaw. For this dressing I added some garlic and dried basil.

Based one some research, this seems to be the way that coleslaw was traditionally made, and I can see why. The dressing ends up tangy with just enough sweetness and it helps to break down the sturdy cabbage.

Canadian Living has another old-school style coleslaw recipe, on their site using the same boiled dressing method that sounds delicious!

I like to use a combination of red and green cabbage in my coleslaw, simply because it’s prettier to look at, but this salad works with whichever variety you have on hand.

Coleslaw with Italian dressing made with red and green cabbage in a bowl

Coleslaw with Italian Dressing

Author: Louisa Clements
4.37 from 19 votes
Make a simple coleslaw at home with an Italian-inspired vinegar dressing with herbs and no mayonnaise.
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Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 minute
Cooling time30 minutes
Total: 41 minutes
servings icon
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 whole cabbage, shredded
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ⅓ cup cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, bring olive oil, cider vinegar, sugar, garlic, basil, salt and pepper to a boil. Boil for 30 seconds and remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly.
  • Pour warm dressing over cabbage, and toss to coat. Allow to stand until salad is cool. When cooled, cover and place in refrigerator to chill. When ready to serve, stir to mix cabbage.

Notes

This recipe gets even better the next day. 
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: Appetizer, easy, gluten free, quick recipes, salad, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Nutrition Facts
Coleslaw with Italian Dressing
Amount Per Serving
Calories 186 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 195mg8%
Potassium 10mg0%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.

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Comments

  1. Bob

    I made the recipe almost exactly as written with the exception of I used lankanto monkfruit rather than sugar, this recipe is delicious, not to oily, just right for the vinegar, it would be a miracle if it lasts past the 2nd day, it's very good, and healthy.

    5 stars

    Reply

    • Louisa Clements

      Thank you, Bob! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe.
      Reply

  2. BB Avocet

    Did you use red AND green cabbage -- the photo looks like it.
    ★★★★★
    Reply

    • Louisa Clements

      Hi BB, yes for the photo I used red and green! But either would be fine in the recipe. :) I hope you enjoyed!
      Reply

  3. Sarah

    Looks delicious. I used to eat something similar to this as a child because back then I hated coleslaw with mayo on it. I will have to try this to see how it tastes compared to the stuff I used to eat.
    Reply

    • Louisa Clements

      Thank you Sarah, let me know how it goes!
      Reply

  4. Helen @ Scrummy Lane

    HI, Lou! I think this is a VERY common problem indeed. I'm almost (not quite!!) twice your age but I do still put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve and get disappointed easily if, for example, I didn't tick all the things off my 'to-do' list in a particular day. I think what I've learnt over the years, though (and TRY to remember) is that you can only do your best, and that is always good enough. P.S. The coleslaw looks so healthy ... and tasty too with that lovely simple dressing. It's nice to see a coleslaw that isn't smothered in mayonnaise!
    Reply

    • Lou

      Thanks for your thoughts on this Helen, definitely helpful and I love hearing what works and doesn't work for others or just to know that we're not alone in this :)
      Reply

  5. Mariana @The Candid Kitchen

    I have been having so much coleslaw lately, and I love it! So in the back of my mind I am trying to think of loads of ways to give the recipe twists, this sounds perfect, Lou! Great alternative to the ol' mayo/cream dressing.
    Reply

    • Lou

      Thank you, Mariana! I've been so into coleslaw also, they are just perfect for summer!
      Reply

  6. Allison

    Hey Lou! I love coleslaw in the summer. I could honestly eat a truckload of it at every meal! I hear you about the always room for improvement thing. Although, you're so young! I'm turning 27 in a couple of months and I'm up to my eyeballs in things I want to do, improve on, try, etc. There are always things I want to achieve, but I'm trying to make a better effort at enjoying the process along the way. :) PS. Your photos are gorgeous!
    Reply

    • Lou

      Hey Allison! There isn't much better than coleslaw in the summer, is there? I love the idea of trying to enjoy the process, I've been trying to focus a lot on taking in different moments over the past few months and have found that it is helping a lot :)
      Reply

  7. [email protected]

    I have that same mindset in just about everything. --- I think it's because we strive so hard to be perfect in everything, but in reality we CAN'T succeed and accomplish everything we want in life. Really thought-provoking when you think about it....And this coleslaw looks perfect! I love a good classic coleslaw and am loving how you topped this with an Italian dressing rather than the usual mayo dressing. Superb photos too! The lighting is just perfect!
    Reply

    • Lou

      Thanks for the kind words, Sarah. I love that this post made you think a bit more about all of this, I find it so fascinating and love hearing the thoughts and experiences of others.
      Reply

  8. Olivia - Primavera Kitchen

    So beautiful this salad. Very summery. Love it
    Reply

    • Lou

      Thank you, Olivia!
      Reply