Colorful vegetables and a creamy, lightened up dressing turn a bag of coleslaw mix into this quick and easy California Coleslaw.
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Coleslaw, in a variety of forms, makes a frequent appearance on my menus all year long. It’s fun to dress it up with different ingredients and dressings to make it unique and interesting. This delicious variation has long been one of our favorites.
In true California style, this coleslaw recipe is laid back and so easy to prepare. It’s bright and sunny with the addition of some colorful veggies and a lightened up creamy dressing makes it easy on the waistline.
Ingredients
- I use store bought 3-color coleslaw mix because it makes it so darned easy… and, well, because I don’t want to shred stuff. You’ll find it near the bagged salad mixes in the produce section of your grocery store.
- Make it even easier by using bagged shredded carrot.
- Light sour cream along with mayonnaise helps to lower both the fat and calories in the creamy dressing without sacrificing flavor.
- I also like to add a little fresh lemon juice when I have lemons on hand.
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise, light sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Combine the coleslaw mix with shredded carrot, diced onion, and diced red and green bell pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Add about half of the coleslaw dressing to the salad and toss it well to combine. You may end up adding it all before serving but start with less so you can control the end result.
- Cover and refrigerate the coleslaw and remaining dressing separately for 30 minutes or up to an hour while you prepare the other items on your menu.
- Toss with as much of the remaining dressing as desired just before serving.
Make-Ahead Directions
- To make it up to 24 hours in advance, cover and refrigerate the undressed coleslaw and dressing separately.
- Toss with the dressing just before serving.
Does this salad say California or what?
Serving Ideas
- Pile it on Crock-Pot Barbecue Beef Sandwiches.
- It is an absolutely fabulous side dish for Blackened Mahi Mahi.
- Serve it with The Best Turkey Burger Recipe and Crispy Oven Baked Fries.
This recipe was originally published on July 10 , 2012 and has been updated with new text and images.
California Coleslaw
Ingredients
- ¼ cup light sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 14 ounces 3-color coleslaw, (a mixture of green and red cabbage and carrots)
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrot
Instructions
- Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, fresh lemon juice (if using), salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the 3-color coleslaw, diced onion, chopped bell peppers, and shredded carrot. Pour about half of the dressing over the top and toss to combine well.
- Cover and refrigerate the coleslaw and remaining dressing separately for 30 minutes or up to an hour while you prepare the other items on your menu. Toss with as much of the remaining dressing as desired just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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Thanks Valerie. Good recipe. Used your recipe as a blueprint and tweaked it since I didn’t have everything on hand. I just used a little mayo, diced apple, handful of walnuts, plain rice vinegar, stevia, and a couple drops of toasted sesame oil and had that along side of your fantastic mahi mahi recipe. I didn’t rate it because I didn’t use the ingredients as written, but I’m sure it’s delicious as written.
Love your changes and substitutions, Angela. Especially the apple. Yum! So glad it worked out for you.
Being from SoCal myself I had to read this recipe…sounds very good to me 🙂
I like your granite counter too…I’m installing granite this week, so I am noticing it everywhere.
LL
I gotta try this one. I don’t eat slaw (mayo allergy) but hubs loves it so this would make him supremely happy. Looks so good.
Looks fantastic. I’m a New York girl but this is almost identical to my cole slaw recipe. Maybe it’s a ‘coast’ thing? 🙂
Love this salad. Thanks for the detailed pics and sharing!