Good old coleslaw: 4 recipes to try

Shredded red cabbage in clay bowl on black background. Vegetarian healthy food. Top view

Shredded red cabbage in clay bowl on black background. Vegetarian healthy food. Top view

If you are trying to add more vegetables to your meals, coleslaw is a fast, low cost, and effective way to do so. Slaw is a great side dish, added to burgers, or as a light lunch.

However, not all coleslaws are created equal – if they are slathered in heavy dressing, their nutritional value can be compromised, so here are some tasty ways to add extra interest to your slaw.

  • Start with a bright base – use red cabbage to add colour and antioxidants, slice thinly and use 1/3 of a small cabbage as a base
  • Add dark green leaves – thinly sliced spinach, silverbeet or kale to add more nutrients
  • Get grating – carrot, beetroot and fennel bulb are delicious
  • Heavenly herbs – chop in parsley, coriander, mint or basil for flavour
  • Fabulous fruit – slice apples or pears into matchsticks for a burst of crunch and sweetness
  • Make it crunch – celery, nuts, seeds and spring onions add flavour an
  • Just a spoonful of sugar – sprinkle your slaw with a couple of teaspoons of sugar, mix through and chill for an hour before serving. You won’t need a dressing and the vegetables will be juicy and crunchy

Here are some combinations to try:

Nutty and spicy slaw

  • 1/3 cabbage, finely sliced
  • 1 bunch coriander, finely chopped
  • 1 bunch spring onions, finely chopped
  • 100g spinach, chopped
  • chilli roasted peanuts
  • black sesame seeds
  • sesame oil

Mix all the chopped vegetables and herbs together, then sprinkle with nuts, seeds and oil. Refrigerate for an hour then serve.

 

Coconut and apple slaw

  • 1/3 red cabbage, finely sliced
  • 100g silverbeet, sliced
  • 1 large apple, match sticked
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 3/4 cup coconut thread
  • 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar

Mix all ingredients together and chill

 

Fennel Slaw

  • 2 fennel bulbs, finely chopped or grated
  • 50g kale, finely sliced
  • 1 pear, chopped into tiny pieces
  • 1/4 cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Mix all ingredients together and chill.

 

Beetroot and mint slaw

  • 100g spinach, finely sliced
  • 1/3 cabbage, finely sliced
  • 1/2 raw beetroot, grated
  • 1 cup mint, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped almonds

Squeeze some of the liquid out of the beetroot, then mix all ingredients together and chill.