This apple coleslaw without mayo is a twist to the traditional coleslaw recipe. It has crunchy cabbage, crispy apples and carrots, and zesty cashew lemon dressing. It's a refreshing salad recipe for meal prep, barbecue, or when craving something light and flavorful.
Salad without mayo
Traditionally, coleslaw recipes use colorful veggies tossed in a mayonnaise dressing. This apple cabbage and carrot salad without mayo is ideal for a vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diet. It is also light and ready in less than 20 minutes.
While you are here check out our trending and popular quinoa salad, simple apple salad.
Ingredients
Cabbage: Use green, red or purple or a mixture.
Apple: Any crisp apple you choose will work, like Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, etc.
Carrot: for color and natural sweetness.
Onions: For bright flavor, zesty kick
Cashew lemon dressing: Cashews, lemon, oil, pepper powder and honey (maple syrup).
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Check out the recipe card for the full list of the ingredients.
Step-by-step instructions
- Add cabbage, a pinch of salt, and sugar to a bowl and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. This step is optional.
- Add cashews, lemon juice, oil, pepper powder, and honey, and blend until smooth and emulsified in a blender or mixie jar.
- Add the cabbage, carrot, cucumber, apple, onion, and dressing to a mixing bowl and toss until combined.
- Please refrigerate it for 30 minutes to one hour so that the flavors combine. Then, serve and enjoy.
Storage
Any leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 5 days. This apple slaw is one of the best make-ahead recipes for dinner parties, potlucks, picnics, or summer barbecue parties because the flavors combine well the more you marinate them.
Serving suggestions
You can serve this apple coleslaw as a simple and light refreshing meal or as a side with grilled fish or meat, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, etc.
Tips
- Feel free to add jalapeno for heat and fresh cilantro or parsley for flavor.
- If you like additional crunch, feel free to add roasted almonds or peanuts.
- Coconut oil can be substituted with olive oil.
- Instead of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar can be used.
- I love garlic; add a clove while blending the dressing.
- Onion can also be substituted with spring onions.
- The fresher the produce, the tastier the coleslaw will be.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients to your liking.
More meal prep salad
Recipe card
Apple Coleslaw (No Mayo)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ of a Medium head of cabbage around 1 ½ cups
- 2 Carrots shredded around 1 ½ cups
- 2 Cucumber peeled and shredded 1 ½ cups
- 1 cup Apple peeled and shredded
- ½ cup Onion thinly sliced
- Salt to taste
- Sugar to taste, optional
For cashew lemon dressing
- 8 to 10 cashews
- 3 to 4 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon Coconut oil olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Pepper powder to taste
- 1 tablespoon Honey maple syrup
Instructions
- Add cabbage, a pinch of salt, and sugar to a bowl and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. This step is optional.⅓ of a Medium head of cabbage, Salt, Sugar
- Add cashews, lemon juice, oil, pepper powder, and honey, and blend until smooth and emulsified in a blender or mixie jar.8 to 10 cashews, 3 to 4 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon Coconut oil, 1 teaspoon Pepper powder, 1 tablespoon Honey
- Add the cabbage, carrot, cucumber, apple, onion, and dressing to a mixing bowl and toss until combined.2 Carrots, 2 Cucumber, 1 cup Apple, ½ cup Onion
- Please refrigerate it for 30 minutes to one hour so that the flavors combine. Then, serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Feel free to add jalapeno for heat and fresh cilantro or parsley for flavor.
- If you like additional crunch, feel free to add roasted almonds or peanuts.
- Coconut oil can be substituted with olive oil.
- Instead of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar can be used.
- Love garlic? add a clove while blending the dressing.
- Onion can also be substituted with spring onions.
- The fresher the produce, the tastier the coleslaw will be.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients to your liking.
Store
Any leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 5 days. This apple slaw is one of the best make-ahead recipes for dinner parties, potlucks, picnics, or summer barbecue parties because the flavors combine well the more you marinate them.Nutrition
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Amber says
This sounds like a great idea! I use apple in my coleslaw a lot, especially in the fall when we have so many from our Jona Gold Tree. Any dressing with cashews is the best!
Visiting from the FB share. Have a great week!
Delaney says
Love the idea of the cashew lemon dressing, excited to try this recipe! Thanks!