Description
Crisp apple cranberry coleslaw brings summer picnic magic to classic salad traditions. Crunchy cabbage, sweet apples, and tart cranberries create a light, zesty side dish you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Produce:
- 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 apple, julienned or thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
Dried Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Finely shred green and red cabbage into uniform, delicate ribbons, ensuring consistent texture throughout the salad.
- Grate carrots using a box grater, creating thin, wispy strands that will blend seamlessly with the cabbage.
- Core and slice apples into thin, crisp matchsticks, maintaining their fresh, vibrant appearance and preventing browning.
- Scatter dried cranberries across the vegetable mixture, adding bursts of tangy sweetness and deep crimson color.
- In a separate mixing vessel, whisk mayonnaise with apple cider vinegar until smooth and creamy, creating a harmonious base for the dressing.
- Drizzle honey into the dressing, balancing the vinegar’s sharpness with subtle sweetness and creating a glossy consistency.
- Season the dressing with salt and freshly ground black pepper, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Gently fold the dressing into the vegetable and fruit mixture, ensuring every ingredient is evenly coated and distributed.
- Cover the coleslaw and refrigerate for 60-90 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to marinate, developing a more complex taste.
- Before serving, give the coleslaw a final gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and revive the fresh ingredients.
Notes
- Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or vegan mayo for a lighter, healthier alternative that keeps the creamy texture.
- Choose crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for maximum crunch and bright flavor contrast.
- Toast the dried cranberries quickly in a dry skillet to intensify their sweetness and add a subtle roasted note.
- Prep ingredients just before serving to prevent apples from browning and maintain the coleslaw’s fresh, vibrant appearance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 185 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg