Saturday, December 22, 2007

Coleslaw....I Mean, Cabbage Salad!

What's up with the aversion people have to coleslaw? Is it that, traditionally, it's shredded cabbage and carrot swimming in mayonnaise? Or is it just the raw cabbage? But coleslaw is one of the most versatile, potentially most nutritious mix of raw veggie salads I think there is!

Tracy's Rainbow Cabbage Salad

I have been eating some version of coleslaw at least 5 times a week! In fact, I often take it to pot lucks because the raw veggies hold up well prepared in advance....but I always call it "Cabbage Salad", because if I call it coleslaw...the look on peoples faces is usually one of being "put off".

Basic coleslaw is just shredded cabbage and carrot dressed with mayo. An easy and quick way to lighten it up is simply using a mayo/yogurt combination. From there you can add sweet, heat, tang (or all, like I often do) and with a protein, like diced chicken, it can easily become a maincourse meal.

To get flavor ideas I poured over cookbooks for any and all recipes for salads, especially coleslaws The first I came across, I dare anyone to dislike is "Curry Coleslaw" (recipes to follow), when anyone smells this, they come running! "Oooh! What's that?" Is what I often hear from friends and co-workers. And it's the recipe I've given out the most,

Curry Dressing (for cabbage salad)

mayo / yogurt 1 cup total (1/2 & 1/2)

apple cider vinegar, 2 tbl.

lemon juice, 1-2 tbl.

sugar, 2 tbl. (or honey)

curry powder 1 tbl. ( I like alot!)

garlic, 1 clove crushed

S&P

The veggies for this salad start out with

green and/or red cabbage, shredded

carrot, shredded

green onion

golden raisins

cilantro and/or parsley

I've added, diced jalapeno, and switched out the raisins for fresh grapes, a fuji apple, or pineapple (fresh) and chopped dates. And I alway make my salads main dish by adding chicken/turkey/pork, etc.. But really, use what you have or like!


The picture above is my Rainbow Cabbage Salad, I made it the day I made my Rainbow Chili. And although I could call most of my salads "rainbows" because I always use plenty of colorful veggies, this one got the name! I started with one red bell and one jalapeno left over from the chili ingredients. I decided on a slghtly sweet dressing to balance out the spicy chili.

Dressing

mayo/yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sugar, S& P....simple!

Salad

green and red cabbage, shredded

carrot, shredded

red bell pepper

broccoli, (stems incuded, shredded)

fuji apple

jalapeno, diced

S&P

Some of the other variations of coleslaw;

Waldorf Coleslaw with Blue Cheese

Broccoli Slaw w/peanuts

Cabbage and White Bean Coleslaw w/bar-b-que dressing

Sweet and Sour Slaw w/ Chutney Dressing

Cabbage and Crab w/ Orange Mustard Dressing

Etc... I could go on and on....

Life is good. Food is good. Coleslaw, I mean Cabbage Salad is good!

12 comments:

Jen's Gym at Crossfit Watertown, CT said...

I can't wait to make this!!! Yummy!

Happiness Within said...

Yippee! These look so delicious!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Jen,

Get back to me and tell me what you think! Be careful with the curry though, I may have advised too much for the "normal" person!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Tamikka,

I hope we can hook up soon after the first of the year. I can't wait to meet!

leslie said...

Another wonderful recipe and cooking lesson -- thank you so much, Tracy!

fawn said...

I was in love with slaw this past summer... this message makes me want to make some wilted warm slaw... Tracy, you may have to come to Minnesota in the winter for some cold weather inspiration one year.

Sherry said...

I make what I call Foo Me Salad. It's coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage, green onions, chicken, slivered almonds, a dash of sesame oil or toasted sesame seeds, and rice wine vinegar. It's yummy!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Fawn,

Wilted slaw? Why do you peak my curiousity and then don't include instructions????

I will come anytime...snow, sleet or frozen tundra couldn't keep me away!

Tracy Reifkind said...

Sherry,

I forget about rice wine vinegar in the winter...I wonder why? But my "Asian" inspired salads make much stronger appearance in the summer...so does my consumtion of shrimp...I think they go hand in hand!

fawn said...

Tracy,

The wilted slaw just popped into my head... I guess; bitter greens, radicchio, duck confit, citrus (grapefruit)vinaigrette, pistachio nuts, maybe an intense cheese like taleggio...

Craig Massey said...

I hate "coleslaw" for the reasons you mention, but had discovered a cabbage salad at a local restaurant and loved it. They still called it coleslaw, but it was closer to what you're doing.

I am so trying some of these excellent ideas.
Thank-you very much!

Jen's Gym at Crossfit Watertown, CT said...

Hey, I just made this and it was great. I used about 1/2 the curry powder. This will be my new bring it to the party dish! Cool!