Sweet and Tangy Apple Coleslaw Salad Recipe
This Sweet and Tangy Apple Coleslaw Salad is a delightful fusion of crisp coleslaw mix, tart Granny Smith apples, and a flavorful dressing made with apple cider vinegar, sugar, and mayonnaise. Perfectly chilled, it offers a refreshing and slightly spicy side dish that pairs wonderfully with BBQ or sandwiches.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 bag (16 ounces) coleslaw mix
- 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced into thin matchsticks
- ½ cup diced celery
- 5 green onions, finely sliced
Dressing
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Prepare the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, thinly sliced Granny Smith apple matchsticks, diced celery, and finely sliced green onions. Toss gently to mix the components evenly.
- Make the dressing base: In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together apple cider vinegar, granulated white sugar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a simmer while stirring continuously until the sugar has completely dissolved to create a smooth, tangy dressing.
- Add mayonnaise to the dressing: Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in the mayonnaise until the dressing is creamy and fully combined, creating a balanced sweet and tangy flavor with a slight creamy texture.
- Toss salad with dressing: Pour the warm dressing over the cabbage mixture in the large bowl. Toss all ingredients thoroughly to ensure every strand of cabbage, slice of apple, and piece of onion is well coated with the dressing.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Allowing it to chill lets the flavors meld together and enhances the overall taste and texture of the coleslaw salad before serving.
Notes
- To make this dressing vegan-friendly, substitute the mayonnaise with vegan mayo or homemade vegan mayo following a vegan mayo recipe.
- This coleslaw pairs excellently with BBQ dishes or simple sandwiches, making it a versatile side dish.
- For an extra twist, you can add pineapple or grapes to the coleslaw for a tropical, sweet touch.
Keywords: coleslaw, apple coleslaw, sweet and tangy salad, coleslaw recipe, apple cider vinegar dressing
