The sweet and tart coleslaw dressing hits all the right notes! It’s a homemade coleslaw vinaigrette that’s a bit sweet, a bit tart, and has just a little bit of heat. Only five ingredients and mixed in a jar, so easy!
Creamy Coleslaw or Vinegar Coleslaw?
Have you ever stopped to contemplate coleslaw? Coleslaw is kind of weird. I mean, no one ever goes around saying, “Boy, I wish I had some coleslaw today.” Yet, it’s always there, just kind of plugging along. For me, it’s usually an afterthought, that little Styrofoam container tossed in at the last minute in the Kentucky Fried Chicken bag.
And since you are stopping to contemplate slaw, think about all the coleslaw ramifications. Do you like yours creamy or vinegary? Sweet or sour? With or without onions? Purely cabbage, or some carrots, what about broccoli? See. Slaw is a complex thing. A wonder. (You’re looking at it in a whole new light, now aren’t you?)
I definitely fall on the vinegar side. Once you find a good coleslaw vinaigrette, you can whip up some slaw for an easy side dish any time you want!
Ingredients in this Homemade Coleslaw Dressing
Let’s talk about the ingredients in this vinegar coleslaw dressing. First of all, there are only five ingredients and one of them is optional!
Sugar – I used raw sugar, white will also work.
Vinegar – I used white. Apple cider vinegar would also be good.
Salt and pepper.
Chili Pepper – this is optional, but we like a little heat in our coleslaw. Leave seeds in if you like it hot, remove the seeds or don’t use the pepper at all if you don’t want any spice.
Variations – this dressing is very basic, you could add some fresh herbs like cilantro or mint. I’ve also used lovage in coleslaw – so good!
How to Make a Coleslaw Vinaigrette
Gather your ingredients: sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper, and chili pepper if using. If you are adding a pepper, slice it thinly, seeding it or not. Put all the ingredients in a jar with a tight lid and shake until sugar dissolves.
That’s it! That’s how easy it is to make this coleslaw dressing!
Vinegar Based Coleslaw
My whole slaw contemplation came about because my CSA gave me 5 heads of cabbage. So, I’ve been eating lots of slaw lately, you might even say I’ve become a slaw connoisseur. I’ve learned a few things: One – I prefer a vinegar based slaw, two – I like mine sweetish, and three – it’s so easy to change up a slaw.
I found this formula for the dressing in an old Sarah Foster’s cookbook. It’s basically equal parts sugar and vinegar. If it’s too sweet, use less sugar, too tart use less vinegar. It’s that easy!
I don’t have any other coleslaw recipes by themselves, but I do have recipes that have slaw as a component. All of them could be used as a stand alone slaw – and since cabbage is so good for you, we all need to eat more slaw!
More Slaw Recipes
Pork Chops with Apple Cabbage Slaw
Zucchini, Green Bean and Chili Slaw
Spicy Fish Tacos with Fennel Slaw
Five Spice Chicken with Carrot Radish Slaw
If you make this Homemade Coleslaw Vinaigrette, I would love it if you would tag me on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook
Sweet and Tart Coleslaw Dressing
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Screw on lid and shake until sugar dissolves.
- Will keep in the refrigerator for a week.
This easy recipe is a keeper. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you!
I love that this is more of a vinaigrette and not mayonnaise-based. Sounds so good and so much better for you!
I prefer these vinegar based over mayonnaise based – so much lighter!
Love how easy this is to make! Looks so delicious!
I love simple recipes like this and also appreciate that there’s no added fat in this dressing.
Simple recipes are the best!
I’ve recently discovered that I like my slaw sweet and vinegary. This dressing sounds perfect.
Mimi
We eat tons of slaw! It will be good to try this! I like mine tart with a little bit of sweet. Thanks for sending it to the Showdown!
Interesting that there is no oil in this dressing. It is really a marinade/pickle.
{I mean, no one ever goes around saying, “Boy, I wish I had some slaw today.” }
Actually….um, I have. I love good slaw. While I like to try a variety of them, my general preferences are
-a little sweetness
-a little horseradish
-a touch of celery seed
-I like vinegar but mayo also
I love slaw with barbecue anything. I love slaw on a big sesame bun and some barbecued pork or chicken. Now you’ve gone and done it…I’m hungry!!!
jessyburke88@gmail.com
Somehow that’s not what I thought you meant by lovage 😛 I only like vinegary slaws…definitely giving this a try. And definitely finding some lovage. Wink wink.
I am a HUGE coleslaw fan. I love it anyway, creamy or vinegary. I especially love it with celery seed. Yours looks very pretty! Good luck with all that cabbage.
I must pass this recipe on to my mom… she DOES go around saying “I wish I had some slaw today.”
That is some sexy slaw
How gorgeous. This slaw looks and sounds wonderful. I’ll have to give it a try. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Type of slaw for us depends on what it’s going with – for Pork BBQ Sandwiches it has to be creamy with mustard and vinegar; with chicken it’s creamy with cranberries; asian it’s vinegar and sweet…I guess in a nutshell we just like slaw! As for lovage, you got me on that one. What does it taste like?
i like LOTS of vinegar and sugar, and mayonnaise is an instant turn-off. this looks like a batch that i’d enjoy atop some super saucy pulled pork barbecue…mmm.
That slaw looks so delicious and very easy! I’m going to have to try it out- a nice change from the creamy slaws.
Now I feel weird since I have actually thought….gee, I wish I had slaw today. Usually it’s too easy to grab a tub from the store but when I leave Germany, I’ll start making it again. Vinegar and sweet? oh yes!
Hi Pam, How does it feel to be on VACATION??? Bet you are enjoying it… Just wish it wasn’t so darn hot…
I love slaw—but not the mayo kind. My mother made a fabulous slaw with vinegar AND sugar –and onions and green pepper. SO SO delicious!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
P.S. I do like KFC’s slaw though!!!
I like my slaw creamy, and a little sweet, with plenty of cabbage and lots of carrots. A friend started making it with golden raisins after having it that way in the Carribbean, but that was just too weird for me. See? We all have our slaw opinions!
Cannot imagine what you were thinking in that 2008 photo in your What Was It Wednesday post. The cute little guys standing over the stove?
Anyway…I love cole slaw but I am major fussy about it. Hate the carraway seed kind. I’ll give yours a try next time, although I usually end up with a sweet/sour mayo kind.
(Sending you an email.)
You have posted some lovely dressing recipes lately! I will have to remember these when summer comes back to our region!
There is a restaurant in my area that uses honey in their dressing, and it was the first time I had ever had a sweet slaw. What an amazing thing!! I had never had a slaw dressing without mayo and vinegar (and a few other things)
Fortunately, I remembered to plant lovage this year!
Did you know you can freeze cabbage? I just quarter it and put it in freezer bags and it’s great in cabbage soup or anything that uses cooked cabbage.
Pam,
I love slaw and Sarah Foster is one of my favorites. I’ll have to give this a try.
Sam
I just started to appreciate cole slaw in the last few years…
I’d be happy with a giant bowl of slaw and a small container of fried chicken! I love to mix slaw with tuna or chicken salad, and I love Asian slaws with grilled fish.