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This spicy cole slaw dressing without mayo is made of creamy silken tofu with cayenne to give it a kick! It will instantly brighten your coleslaw or any salad or dish you serve it with. Creamy, slightly tangy, with a touch of sweetness and spiciness it’s irresistibly delicious! Plus, this vegan coleslaw dressing is ready in just 6 minutes!

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Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Homemade Coleslaw Dressing with a Kick Recipe
- Ingredients for Spicy Coleslaw Dressing (No Mayo)
- How to Make Coleslaw Dressing Without Mayo
- Add-Ins and Variations for Slaw Dressing
- Toni’s Recipe Tips for Making Spicy Slaw Dressing
- FAQs
- Serving Suggestions for Spicy Coleslaw Dressing Without Mayo
- Storage Instructions for Homemade Salad Dressing
- More Yummy Salad Dressings to Try
- Spicy Cole Slaw Dressing [Without Mayo] Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Coleslaw Dressing with a Kick Recipe

Homemade dressings are almost always tastier and healthier, compared to buying ready-made ones. And in this case, it’s even quicker and easier to make than running to the store! I love that you can control both the quality and quantity of ingredients you are using, and make it to your taste. Which means you can make this creamy and flavorful slaw dressing as tangy, sweet, or spicy as you want it to be! Bonus: You can also know that it is preservative and additive-free.
Plus, this quick and easy slaw dressing recipe uses budget-friendly ingredients that are easy to find. Even better, the silken tofu gives your salad a protein boost! You can even make this spicy slaw dressing ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, to enjoy it whenever you want. Though it is “designed” to be used in a coleslaw recipe, it can also pair will with any other salad you like, or even be used as a dip or drizzle, like a spicy mayo.
Ingredients for Spicy Coleslaw Dressing (No Mayo)
- Silken Tofu: Also called Japanese-style tofu. It is used as the base for this smooth and creamy vegan dressing. This type of tofu contains more moisture than the others, so it is ideal for this dressing recipe. Learn more about it and other types of tofu here!
- Dijon Mustard: Aside from adding a beautiful amber color, it also has a distinct and robust taste that gives the dressing depth of flavor.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Has a more potent flavor than regular vinegar but with hints of floral sweetness.
- Agave Nectar: You can also use cane sugar or maple syrup. It balances the sharpness of the dijon mustard and vinegar.
- Cayenne Powder: Gives the dressing a little kick will make your spicy slaw dressing more exciting. Adjust the heat level according to your preference.
- Extra-Virgin olive oil: Helps achieve the desired dressing consistency.
- Salt: To taste.
How to Make Coleslaw Dressing Without Mayo
Making this spicy slaw dressing from scratch cannot be easier!
- Step 1: Using a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients except for the olive oil.
- Step 2: While blending, slowly add the oil until it becomes smooth and creamy.
That’s it! You now have a nutritious homemade dressing on your hands.

Add-Ins and Variations for Slaw Dressing
- Garlic Slaw Dressing: You can add minced garlic or ginger for that extra punch of flavors.
- Sesame Slaw Dressing: You can also give the dressing more taste by adding sesame oil or seeds. This is great for an Asian inspired slaw.
- Herbal Slaw Dressing: If you like to liven up your dressing, you can mix it with simple herbs like basil, cilantro, thyme, dill, oregano, mint, rosemary, or sage. (Learn how to properly store herbs here!)
- Spiced Slaw Dressing: You can also use spices like black pepper, mustard seed, fennel, cumin, and paprika.
Toni’s Recipe Tips for Making Spicy Slaw Dressing
- Add oil slowly: When adding the olive oil to the slaw dressing mixture, pour in the thinnest stream possible so you can properly gauge if you’ve had enough. Too much will ruin the consistency of the dressing.
- Label clearly for freshness: Add a label for your homemade salad dressing that includes the date it was made. This way, everyone in your house knows until when it is good to use.
- Taste test first: Always taste your salad dressing before adding more salt or other seasonings. It is best to try it with a piece of lettuce or cabbage leaf to have an idea of how to balance the flavors better.
- Shake well before use: Always shake your homemade dressing before adding it to your salad once it has been stored. This is to ensure that the flavor redistributes and the texture becomes smoother.
FAQs
It can get runny if you added too much vinegar and too little oil. To fix this, just gently add more oil until you reach the right consistency.
You can fix that by adding more olive oil and sweetener until you get the perfect blend you are looking for.
Before deciding that you have put too much salt into the dressing, mix it with some salad veggies first. The saltiness decreases when tossed with greens and other vegetables, especially the sweet ones.
Serving Suggestions for Spicy Coleslaw Dressing Without Mayo
- Coleslaw, of course!: You can make a classic Coleslaw or switch it up with apples and corn. My Kale Slaw, Broccoli Slaw, and Brussels Sprouts Slaw would also taste phenomenal with this extra kick.
- Salad Dressing: You can also use it as a low-fat alternative to creamy dressings like Caesar, ranch, and plant-based yogurt. It is equally creamy and delicious.
- Sandwich Spread: This dressing is flavorful enough to use as a sandwich spread! Stack it up with some fresh veggies, and you have a great slaw veggie sandwich to enjoy.
- Drizzle: Drizzle it over your fried or grilled entrees like Broccoli and Onion Pakora, BBQ Tempeh, and BBQ Cauliflower Wings to add more flavor!
- Dip: Use it as a dip next time you make some Crispy Fried Tofu Wontons, Quinoa Tater Tots, or Baked Zucchini Fries.
- Spicy Mayo: Use it in place of spicy mayo on Tofu Sushi, Vegan Sushi Bowls, or Cauliflower Tacos.
Storage Instructions for Homemade Salad Dressing
Fridge: Use bottle containers or jars to store your slaw dressing. Keep the slaw dressing in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Although you can freeze the dressing, Ido not suggest doing so. Freezing it up may change the texture and taste.
Dressed salad: If you used the dressing over a salad and left it a room temperature, it may go bad within 2 hours. Place the salad in the fridge so you can keep the freshness of both the veggies and the dressing.

More Yummy Salad Dressings to Try
Vegan Sauces & Condiments
Basil Salad Dressing
Vegan Lunches
Cilantro and Green Chili Dressing
Vegan Lunches
Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
If you tried this Spicy Cole Slaw Dressing recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!
Photos by Alfonso Revilla



















Hi! I’d like to make this to use in your slaw recipe and the slaw asks for “1 serving Slaw Dressing with a Kick” but this recipe only lists a serving is .75c… is it correct to assume that this whole recipe (3/4c dressing) would be used in the slaw? Naturally, I’d be following your tip of “Before you dump ALL the dressing into the bowls, try reserving some….” but as a general starting point is it the .75c/entire recipe to pull from?
I hope I phrased that clearly, it makes sense in my head! I love your recipes and whole vibe, you’re a great resource!!
Kris
Hi Kris! You are correct! You’ll just need one serving of this slaw dressing (which is ¾ cup) for the Vegan Coleslaw recipe. Hope that helps!