Fresh Coleslaw with Lime and Cilantro
A zesty, crunchy coleslaw featuring fresh lime juice and cilantro for a bright twist on a classic side dish. Perfect for BBQs, picnics, and quick weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head green cabbage, finely shredded
- 1/2 small head red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and julienned or shredded
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- Juice of 2 large limes
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the veggies: Finely shred the green and red cabbage using a sharp knife or mandoline slicer into uniform thin strips about 1/4 inch wide. Shred or julienne the carrots. Finely dice the red onion and chop the cilantro leaves, avoiding stems.
- Mix the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lime juice, lime zest, honey, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the shredded cabbage, carrots, red onion, and cilantro. If using jalapeño, fold it in now. Pour the dressing over the veggies and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Rest for flavor: Let the coleslaw sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and veggies to stay crisp.
- Final taste check: Toss again and adjust salt or lime juice if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Use a sharp knife or mandoline for thin, even slices to ensure the dressing coats well and the texture is crisp. Let the coleslaw rest for 15 minutes before serving to marry flavors. Keep dressing separate if prepping ahead to maintain crunch. Drain excess liquid if coleslaw becomes watery after resting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup (150 g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 0.7
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 2
Keywords: coleslaw, lime, cilantro, fresh, zesty, crunchy, BBQ side, vegan, gluten-free