This crunchy red cabbage coleslaw is made with a creamy yogurt-tahini dressing instead of mayonnaise. It's lighter than traditional coleslaw, higher in protein and calcium, and packed with antioxidant-rich red cabbage.
Save This Recipe!
Type your email & I'll send it to you!
If you're looking for a healthy red cabbage coleslaw recipe, this one delivers the perfect balance of crunchy, creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It comes together in just 15 minutes and pairs well with everything from veggie burgers and tacos to grain bowls and sandwiches.
Jump to:
- 🔍 Quick Look: Red Slaw Without Mayo
- 👩🏽⚕️ Dietitian's Note
- 👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- 🌱 Substitutions
- 📝 How to Make Red Cabbage Coleslaw Without Mayonnaise
- ✔️ Storage & Meal Prep Tips
- 🥬 More Vegan Cabbage Recipes
- 🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
- 🍽️ Related Recipes
- 👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
- ⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
- Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)
- 🛍️ Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
- 💬 Comments
🔍 Quick Look: Red Slaw Without Mayo
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 📊 Calories: ~268 kcal (based on nutrition panel)
- 👩🏽🍳 Flavor Profile: Fresh, creamy, tangy, herbaceous, and slightly sweet with plenty of crunch.
- 💪🏼 Nutrition: 17 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, ~122 mg calcium, ~120 mg magnesium
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy. This red slaw comes together in 15 minutes.
👩🏽⚕️ Dietitian's Note
This coleslaw gets its creaminess from Greek-style yogurt and tahini instead of mayonnaise. Greek-style yogurt (plant-based or regular) adds protein and calcium, while tahini contributes heart-healthy unsaturated fats.
The generous amount of fresh herbs does more than add flavor. Cilantro, parsley, mint, or a combination add freshness, color, and antioxidants while helping create a flavorful dressing without relying heavily on salt.
I also like combining red and green cabbage. Red cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that contribute to its vibrant color, while both varieties provide fiber to support gut and heart health.
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
This mayo-free red cabbage slaw is fresh, flavorful, and comes together in minutes. Plus, it's:
- Crisp, crunchy, and colorful
- Made with a creamy coleslaw dressing without mayo
- Rich in protein, calcium, and fiber
- Packed with fresh herbs and flavor
- Perfect for meal prep
- Delicious with burgers, tacos, bowls, sandwiches, and wraps
👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
Below, I share ingredient notes from both a nutrition expert's and trained chef's perspective.
- Red and green cabbage combined creates a colorful slaw with the perfect balance of texture and flavor. Red cabbage adds vibrant color and anthocyanins, while green cabbage contributes sweetness and crunch.
- Carrots add natural sweetness, color, and crunch, helping balance the tangy herb dressing.
- Greek-style yogurt creates a creamy dressing while adding protein and calcium. Use your favorite dairy-free Greek-style yogurt to keep the recipe plant-based.
- Tahini adds richness and heart-healthy unsaturated fats while helping create a silky, creamy dressing.
- Fresh herbs are the star of this recipe, adding vibrant flavor to both the slaw and dressing. Cilantro brings brightness, parsley adds a fresh, earthy note, and mint contributes a subtle cooling flavor that pairs beautifully with the cabbage. Use one, two, or all three depending on what you have on hand.
- Fresh lemon juice brightens the dressing and balances the richness of the yogurt and tahini.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities.
🌱 Substitutions
This recipe is versatile and easy to adapt. Below are some simple ingredient substitutions.
- Carrot: Use shredded apple, julienned bell pepper, grated beet, or extra cabbage. For a less sweet slaw, use thinly sliced celery or cucumber instead.
- Cabbage: Use all green cabbage, all red cabbage, Napa cabbage, or a bagged coleslaw mix instead.
- Greek-style yogurt: Use dairy-free Greek yogurt, skyr, or strained yogurt.
- Tahini: Substitute with almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter.
- Fresh herbs: try dill, basil, chives, mint, cilantro, parsley, or a combination
- Lemon juice: Lime juice works in a pinch. Otherwise, use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, adding a little at a time to taste.
📝 How to Make Red Cabbage Coleslaw Without Mayonnaise
The complete recipe with exact amounts is below. These additional tips will help you get the best results.
- Finely shred the cabbage for the best texture. A mandoline, food processor with a shredding attachment, or a cabbage grater all work well. You can also use a sharp chef's knife.
- Blend the dressing until completely smooth so the herbs are evenly distributed throughout the slaw.
- Taste the dressing before tossing. Depending on the tartness of your yogurt and lemon, you may want an extra squeeze of lemon juice or pinch of salt.
- For extra crunch and nutrition, add hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds just before serving.
- Add the desired amount of dressing and toss well.
- Dress it ahead of time if you like slightly softened cabbage or you're serving it within a few hours. If making ahead, reserve some of the dressing and toss it in before serving to refresh the slaw.
Serve Creamy Red Cabbage Slaw with my protein-packed Black Bean Edamame Burgers.
✔️ Storage & Meal Prep Tips
These simple steps help preserve freshness and flavor:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For maximum crunch, store the dressing separately and toss just before serving.
🥬 More Vegan Cabbage Recipes
This 5-minute vibrant Cabbage and Carrot Salad combines the crunch of shredded cabbage and carrots with the rich flavors of pistachios and sesame seeds.
My Cabbage and Chickpea Salad is fresh, satisfying, and budget-friendly. Ready in 20 minutes and packed with plant-based goodness.
This Stir Fried Chinese Cabbage recipe is light, crunchy, and tossed in a simple ginger-garlic sauce that clings to every strand of cabbage.
This recipe for cabbage diet soup is satisfying, low in calories, rich in plant-based protein, and ready in just 30 minutes.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
The best dressing for red cabbage slaw balances creaminess, acidity, and fresh flavor. While traditional recipes often use mayonnaise, this yogurt-tahini dressing adds tang, protein, and calcium while keeping the slaw light and refreshing. Fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon juice complement the natural sweetness and crunch of the cabbage.
Greek-style yogurt, tahini, avocado, cashew cream, and vinaigrettes all work well as alternatives.
It depends on the stage of CKD and an individual's dietary recommendations. Cabbage is generally considered a kidney-friendly vegetable because it is relatively low in potassium compared with many other vegetables. However, the overall nutritional profile of the coleslaw will depend on the ingredients used in the dressing and any added toppings.
If you have CKD, it's best to consult your healthcare provider or renal dietitian about whether this recipe fits your specific nutrition plan.
🍽️ Related Recipes
👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
Let me know your thoughts on Red Cabbage Coleslaw by leaving a ⭐️ rating below or sharing it on Instagram.
⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
Use these AI tools to do this:
Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 2 medium carrots grated
- ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs cilantro or parsley
For the mayo-free dressing:
- 1 cup unsweetened Greek-style yogurt
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 small lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- ¾ cup chopped fresh herbs cilantro, parsley, mint, basil, or a mix
- Water as needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional for serving:
- ¼ cup hemp hearts
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
Save This Recipe!
Type your email & I'll send it to you!
EQUIPMENT
- 1 sharp chef's knife or mandoline, food processor with a shredding attachment, or a cabbage grater
- 1 Blender or immersion blender and jar
Instructions
- Combine coleslaw ingredients: Add the red cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, and herbs to a large bowl.
- Blend the dressing ingredients: Transfer the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs to the canister of a blender. Add 2 tablespoons water. Blend until smooth, adding more water until the desired creaminess. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss the salad with the dressing: Add the desired amount of dressing to the slaw ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
Notes
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
🛍️ Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nisha's Favorites
Get my tried-and-true products.
Deepika Narula says
Really enjoyed this with black edamame beans patties. So fresh and crunchy. This is going to be a bi-weekly addition.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So happy you enjoyed this edamame recipe. Thank you.
Jen Corallo says
Hi there Nisha, I haven't made this recipe yet but It looks delish just like all your other recipes. I always get so excited when I see new ones in my inbox. I enjoy them so much. Thank you! Can't wait to try.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you for your kind comment. Hope you enjoy it!