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This easy vegan coleslaw recipe is made without any mayo and a couple of added ingredients which makes it stand apart from other traditional coleslaws. A quick, three-ingredient dressing adds salty and sweet flavor for a dairy-free coleslaw everyone will love.
Coleslaw is the perfect summertime side dish for outdoor BBQs, picnics, or even a quick weeknight dinner. Serve it up with your favorite grilled tofu recipe or veggie burger. I love it paired with a vegan bbq pork sandwich!
Want more summer salad inspiration? You definitely need to check out this vegan potato salad and pasta salad recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
- Dairy-free and mayo-free: This no mayo apple slaw relies on mostly fresh ingredients and a few less processed staples for flavor. No dairy or mayo makes it a healthier option.
- Great for picnics and BBQs: Coleslaw is a popular menu item for outside parties.
- Easy to make for groups of all sizes: I love to make a big batch of this when I have family coming over. It is so quick and easy.
- Healthy: This mayo-free coleslaw is a healthy alternative to the traditional version.
What Goes Into This Recipe
This vegan coleslaw recipe requires simple ingredients that you can easily pick up at most grocery stores.
- Oil: Use a healthy salad oil such as extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil.
- Sweet onion: Such as Walla Walla or Vidalia.
- Purple or green cabbage: Personally I like a blend of the two for more color but if you can only get one that works too.
- Carrots: For color and crunch!
- Apples: Granny smith are my favorites to use for salads.
- Corn: Canned corn, an easy pantry staple makes this recipe simpler but you can also use frozen or even fresh in the summertime.
- Brown sugar: A bit of sweetness to balance the salty soy sauce. You can also swap it with maple syrup or agave.
- Soy sauce: Delicious umami flavor gives this vegan coleslaw so much flavor.
How To Make Dairy Free Coleslaw
- 1) In a small pan over medium-high heat, heat oil. Saute onion until caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- 2) In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, carrots, apple, and corn.
- 3) Dissolve sugar in soy sauce then toss into veggies along with the onion.
Expert Tips
- Save time. In a hurry, use pre-shredded cabbage bought in a bag at the grocery store.
- Making ahead of time? Soak the apples in a bit of lemon juice after cutting them to keep them from turning brown.
- Let it sit. Coleslaw tastes even better after it sits for thirty minutes to an hour. This time allows the cabbage to soften slightly while still retaining some of its natural crunchiness.
FAQs
Traditional coleslaw is typically vegan except for the mayonnaise used to make it. You can opt for an oil and vinegar-based dressing, like this recipe, or use a vegan mayo instead.
In this recipe, you could use broccoli or cauliflower slaw instead of the cabbage. If you’re looking to add in more veggies, I’d suggest some grated yellow beets, shredded fennel, cooked sweet potatoes or butternut squash, and thinly sliced green beans or asparagus.
More Easy Summer Salads
- Vegan Greek Millet Salad
- Marinated Cucumber Salad
- Mango Black Bean Salad
- Vegan Broccoli Salad
- Summer Garden Pasta
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Vegan Coleslaw Recipe with Apple, Carrots and Corn
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of oil
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 3 handfuls of shredded purple cabbage or green cabbage
- 3 handfuls of grated carrots
- ¾ of a large apple cut into sticks
- 1 can of sweet corn drained
- 1 ½ teaspoons of brown sugar
- ¼ cup of soy sauce
Instructions
- In a small pan over medium-high heat, heat oil. Saute onion until caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, carrots, apple, and corn.
- Dissolve sugar in soy sauce then toss into veggies along with the onion.
Notes
- Save time. In a hurry, use pre-shredded cabbage bought in a bag at the grocery store. Also, you can use a food processor to grate and shred.
- Making ahead of time? Soak the apples in a bit of lemon juice after cutting them to keep them from turning brown.
- Let it sit. Coleslaw tastes even better after it sits for thirty minutes to an hour. This time allows the cabbage to soften slightly while still retaining some of its natural crunchiness.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Yummy this coleslaw looks delicious
Colorful and jam-packed with flavor!
Such a fresh spin on creamy cole slaw! Love the addition of apples and corn 🙂
It’s quite the mix of yumminess!
Perfect healthy salad or side! Kids love this one!
So glad your kiddos loved this one!
Such a unique recipe! So colorful and tasty! A new favorite slaw recipe for my summer meal planning 🙂
Gotta love a nice and colorful meal!
I need to make this more often!
You dooo! It’s too good!
Love how flavorful this coleslaw recipe is!
Jam-packed with flavor!
Love this color!
This was great. Super easy to make and so healthy. Thanks for this one!
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s a delicious one!