This Easy Purple Coleslaw recipe has been on my blog for quite some time. It has slowly crept up to be one of the most popular recipes on the blog. So, I thought it was about time to give it a make-over (i.e. new pictures 😉). What makes purple cabbage coleslaw different from “regular” coleslaw you might ask? Purple cabbage has a different antioxidant profile and obviously, it looks totally vibrant. But you could probably just as likely simply make this recipe with white cabbage 🥰.
This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and easy steps to be completed. You simply mix the sauce ingredients – vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice for that citrusy kick, maple syrup, mustard, salt, and pepper and then set it aside. Then shred the purple cabbage and carrot by using a food processor (for ease of convenience, you could also buy it pre-shredded, or cut/shred by hand). Mix everything through and then let it marinate in the fridge for ca. 1 hour in order for the flavors to fully develop. Ta-dah. Easy, deliciousness at its best.
Now, when I brought this dish along for a BBQ the other day – one of my friends asked me: “Is this healthy?”. By now you likely know that I truly believe health is such an individual tailor-made and per person differently applied topic. It is also not just the food that we eat that contributes to our overall health but rather a combination of nutrition, sleep, stress, hydration, and exercise. But yes, overall, this meal is fairly nutrient-dense and packs in a lot of vitamins and minerals (read on below for the full scoop).
Why is this Easy Purple Coleslaw good for you?
(Purple) Cabbage
Personally, I think cabbage is one of the most underrated vegetables out there. It has a really great nutritional profile and it is fairly cheap. In fact, it is one of the most economical vegetables per price per cup. This cruciferous vegetable packs high in vitamin K, C, and B6, as well the minerals manganese, copper, potassium, choline, selenium, magnesium, iron, and calcium (and this is not even the complete list!!). Cabbage is also rich in dietary fiber which has so many benefits for our digestive tract. But – and this is a big BUT – cabbage completely outranks all of this by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Cabbage is packed with polyphenols, and in the case of red cabbage with an antioxidant called “anthocyanin”. This richness in antioxidants allows our body to reduce oxidative stress, which by itself is already a great contributor to our health.
In addition, said anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory, which reduces our risk of chronic inflammation and thereby also acts cancer-preventatively. Cabbage also contains something called “glucosinolates”. On a very basic level, glucosinolates are natural compounds found mainly in cruciferous vegetables. The glucosinolates from cabbage are converted in our bodies and have been shown to be preventative for a variety of cancers, mainly bladder, breast, colon, and prostate. Last but not least, purple cabbage especially has been shown to protect your heart by protecting your red blood cells and reducing oxidized “bad” cholesterol levels in your blood. Not too bad for such a humble, cheap vegetable – am I right 😍?!
How can I adjust this Easy Purple Coleslaw to my Dietary Requirements?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and nut-free. If you would like to make this Easy Purple Coleslaw paleo, simply swap the vegan mayonnaise for paleo mayonnaise. I have found an awesome recipe here from Paleo Grubs.
Complementing Recipes on the Blog
Coleslaw is awesome for a BBQ, as a side, or as a salad by itself. You can pair this dish with any (or all😉) of the below:
- Vegan Grilled Kebab Skewers
- Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Vegan Potato Salad
- Refreshing Corn Salad with Lime Dressing
- Purple cabbage slaw is also awesome for tacos. Try these Sticky Mushroom Walnut Tacos
And there you have it for this week 🤗. I hope you enjoy this awesome Easy Purple Coleslaw. This recipe serves 6-8 as a side salad. If you are adding it to a burger (or similar) you would need a lot less per person and could probably halve the recipe. As always, please let me know how you like the recipe by either leaving a comment below and/or rating it. Happy purple coleslaw-making!!
Easy Purple Coleslaw
Course: SideCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6 – 8
servings20
minutes30
minutesThis Easy Purple Coleslaw is absolutely delicious!! Have it as a side salad at your next BBQ or top your next burger or tacos with it. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- For the Easy Purple Coleslaw sauce
6 tbsp 6 vegan mayonnaise
3 tbsp 3 lemon juice
3 tbsp 3 white wine vinegar
2 tbsp 2 maple syrup
2 tsp 2 mustard
1.5 tsp 1.5 salt
Pepper to taste
- For the Easy Purple Coleslaw
2 medium 2 -sized carrots
1 small 1 head of (red or white) cabbage, ca. 600 gr.
How to
- For the Easy Purple Coleslaw sauce
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside
- For the Easy Purple Coleslaw
- Wash the carrots and cabbage. Cut out the stalk of the cabbage before finely grating both the carrots and the cabbage in your food processor (you could also cut by hand, but this will take considerably longer OR by pre-cut). Combine both the slaw and the sauce and mix through. Put into the fridge for ca. 30 – 60 minutes in order for the flavors to develop. This recipe serves 6 – 8 as a side. ENJOY!!!
