Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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This Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe is easy to make in just 10 minutes, it tastes extra fresh and light, and it can work great as a zesty side dish or as a topping for tacos, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (1)

Guys, I’ve got the yummiest fish taco recipe comin’ your way tomorrow.

But first — we’ve gotta talk about this coleslaw.♡

It’s my go-to, back-pocket, easy-breezy, fresh-and-flavorful cilantro lime slaw recipe that I’ve made for years, and it somehow magically goes with just abouteverything. I make it most often just as a simple side dish when we’re grilling out in the summertime, especially anytime that BBQ sauce or Mexican food are involved. But it’s also fantastic served as a topping on pretty much any kind of tacos — fish, shrimp, carnitas, sofritas, barbacoa, chicken, you name it. It also works great as a topping for burgers or sandwiches, or mixed into buddah bowls or burrito bowls. Or hey — if you want to maybe add a protein and avocado in there too — this slaw can easily be transformed into an entree just like that.

Mostly though, I just love this cilantro lime slaw because it tastes super light and healthy, and it’s a breeze to make. Just pick up a bag of coleslaw mix at the store (or shred some cabbage and carrots and make your own from scratch). Pop a handful of simple ingredients to the blender to make the sauce. Toss everything together and then — voila! — the most delicious, creamy, tangy coleslaw can be ready to go in less than 10 minutes.

Let’s make some!

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Cilantro Lime Slaw Ingredients:

To make this recipe, you will need the following cilantro lime coleslaw ingredients:

  • Coleslaw mix:To make this recipe extra quick and easy, I recommend just picking up a bag of coleslaw mix at the store. Or you’re welcome to just shred some cabbage and carrots and make your own homemade coleslaw mix.
  • Greek yogurt:I like to make this slaw with (full-fat) plain Greek yogurt. But you are welcome to use mayo (or a 50/50 split with mayo) if you prefer. Or mix in some sour cream for an even tangier slaw.
  • Fresh cilantro:We will add lots to the coleslaw dressing, but feel free to also stir in some (larger) chopped cilantro leaves to the finished slaw too.
  • Green onions:We will just add the green parts.
  • Lime juice:Freshly-squeezed, please.
  • Garlic:A few cloves of fresh garlic. Or you can sub in a teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Seasonings:Just salt, pepper and cumin.
  • (Optional) Jalapeño or Serrano Pepper:I love adding in a seeded chile pepper for a little extra heat. Or, if you would like a significantly spicier slaw, leave in the seeds. :)

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How To Make Coleslaw:

To make this easy coleslaw recipe, simply…

  1. Make the coleslaw dressing:Combine the Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, pepper, jalapeño (if using), green onions and garlic in a blender or food processor, and pulse brieflyuntil the mixture is combined. (Or alternately, if you would rather not use a blender to make the coleslaw dressing recipe, you can just finely-chop the ingredients and then stir everything together.)
  2. Toss everything together. In a large bowl, toss the coleslaw mix with the dressing until combined.
  3. Serve.Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to1 day.

Full instructions in the recipe below.

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Possible Variations:

Want to mix things up with this homemade coleslaw recipe? Feel free to:

  • Use a different creamy base:If you love a good mayo-based coleslaw, feel free to use mayo in place of Greek yogurt, or do a 50/50 blend. Or for an even tangier slaw, feel free to use sour cream in place of Greek yogurt, or do a 50/50 blend.
  • Make it sweeter:For a slightly sweeter slaw, feel free to mix 1-2 tablespoons of honey into the coleslaw dressing.
  • Make it smokier:For a smokier slaw, add 1 chipotle pepper in adobe sauce to the dressing. (It’s so good!!)
  • Add avocado:Adding in some avocado is always a good idea. ;)
  • Add extra veggies:If you would like to gussy up the coleslaw mix with extra veggies, feel free to add in some thinly-slicedbell peppers, red onions, jicama, and/or radishes.
  • Add nuts:For some extra crunch, try adding a handful of pepitas or sunflower seeds to this slaw too!

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Ways To Serve This Coleslaw:

As I mentioned above, this cilantro lime slaw recipe can be served any number of ways! Some of my favorites include…

  • Easy side dish:This slaw tastes great on its own as an easy side dish, especially with Mexican or Thai food, or when served with any kind of grilled meats or veggies.
  • Fish tacos:I most often make some form of this slaw to serve on fish tacos. (Stay tuned for a new recipe tomorrow!)
  • Burgers/BBQ/etc:This slaw works great as a topping for burgers, bbq sandwiches, sloppy joes, and many other kinds of sandwiches/slider.

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Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (7)

Cilantro Lime Slaw

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.8 from 58 reviews

  • Author: Ali
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Description

This Cilantro Lime Slaw recipe is easy to make in just 10 minutes, it tastes extra fresh and light, and it can work great as a zesty side dish or as a topping for tacos, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1cup plain Greek yogurt*
  • 1/2 cup tightly-packed fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 3 green onions(just the green parts)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • (optional) 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, stemmed and cored
  • 1 (14-ounce) bag cole slaw mix*(about 78 cups)

Instructions

  1. Combine the Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, black pepper, green onions, garlic and jalapeño (if using) in a blender or food processor*. Pulse briefly a few times until the mixtures is combined.
  2. Place the cole slaw mix in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the sauce on top of the cole slaw, then toss until the mixture is evenly combined. Season with extra pepper and/or lime juice if needed.
  3. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Notes

*Greek yogurt:I used plain full-fat Greek yogurt for this recipe. But if you prefer a mayo-based slaw, you are welcome to use mayo instead, or a 50/50 blend. Or you could do a blend with sour cream if you would like an even tangier slaw.

*Cole slaw mix:If you would like to make homemade cole slaw mix, just combine about 7 cups of shredded cabbage (green, red, or a mix) and 1 cup of shredded carrots.

*Skip The Blender:If you would like to skip the blender/food processor step, you’re also welcome to make this coleslaw dressing recipe entirely by hand. Just finely chop the cilantro, jalapeño (if using), green onions and garlic, and whisk them all together with the other dressing ingredients until combined.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

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posted on July 1, 2019 by Ali

4th of July / Memorial Day / Labor Day, Gluten-free, Mexican-Inspired, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

87 Comments »

Cilantro Lime Slaw Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

Why does coleslaw get soggy? ›

Why does homemade coleslaw go watery? Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Why is it called coleslaw and not cold slaw? ›

The term "coleslaw" arose in the 18th century as an anglicisation of the Dutch term "koolsla" ("kool" in Dutch sounds like "cole") meaning "cabbage salad". The "cole" part of the word ultimately derives from the Latin caulis, meaning cabbage.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Which is healthier salad or coleslaw? ›

Classic coleslaw is full of shredded cabbage and carrots. The dressing, however, is made with mayonnaise and sugar. There is usually about ½ a cup of mayonnaise and usually a couple tablespoons of sugar. That adds up to more calories and more fat than you're probably looking for in a salad.

What can I add to store bought coleslaw to make it taste better? ›

<br/><br/>Adding horse radish or onion or celery seeds or bacon bits or some other tasty flavors to make it your own is a really good idea.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Even if the bag says "prewashed" or "triple-washed," wash the greens yourself. Rinsing won't remove all bacteria but may remove residual soil. Prevent cross contamination by keeping greens away from raw meat.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste. Solution: Use fresh cabbage for your coleslaw.

What country invented coleslaw? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

Who invented coleslaw in America? ›

Its origins can be traced back as far as the ancient Romans, who served a dish of cabbage, vinegar, eggs and spices. The Dutch who founded New York state grew cabbage around the Hudson River that they used in a shredded cabbage salad they called koosla (kool means cabbage and sla is salad).

Is coleslaw unhealthy? ›

Yes. Coleslaw can absolutely be part of a healthy eating plan as long as you choose your dressing carefully. Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition.

What is the best fish for tacos? ›

White-fleshed, mild, saltwater fish

Whether snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper, flounder, halibut, or cod, wild, local fish are the tastiest choice for Baja-style tacos.

What is the best co*cktail for fish tacos? ›

Fish Tacos + Paloma co*cktail: A Paloma is a classic Mexican co*cktail made with tequila, grapefruit juice, and soda water, served with a salt-rimmed glass. Its refreshing, citrusy, and slightly bitter taste makes it a perfect pairing for fish tacos.

What alcohol goes with fish tacos? ›

A light and zesty white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio pairs well with fish tacos, enhancing the lightness of the fish and the tanginess of the toppings. A wheat beer or a light pale ale can also be a refreshing choice.

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

Whatever the reason for the formation, people familiar with the food item began tinkering with its name. For instance, the Latin-based cole was substituted for cold and the spelling variant slaugh was used with cold or cole. The name was also chopped to slaw or slaugh.

Is cabbage slaw and coleslaw the same? ›

While cabbage salad often consists only of one vegetable seasoned and dressed, coleslaw can include a few other ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or seasonings to give some variety to the dish. While both feature cabbage as the star of the show, the different dressings set the two apart.

What defines a slaw? ›

What is slaw? Slaw is a cold salad commonly made from sliced or chopped raw vegetables, especially cabbage or carrots, mixed with a dressing made with mayonnaise or vinegar. It often includes other seasonings and ingredients, such as onions and apples.

What's the difference between a slaw and a salad? ›

Slaws don't get soggy as quickly as leaf lettuce salads, so they can stay in the fridge for a day or two, sometimes longer. They make use of seasonal produce, and offer a nice change of pace from cooked vegetables on the plate. They can be colorful and highly nutritious, and recipes are usually quite flexible.

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