Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published May 5, 2016. Updated May 14, 2019

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ThisAsian Slawis packed with crisp veggies and fresh cilantro and is tossed in a creamy Thai peanut dressing. This is the perfect side dish for grilled chicken or shrimp, and it’s so easy to make!

Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (1)

Asian Slaw with Peanut Dressing

Crisp cabbage salads/slaws are the best! I’ve always loved coleslaw, and this is basically a Thai spin on American coleslaw.

Yes, it tastes entirely different but in such a good way! I’ll eat just about anything when it’s covered in a Thai peanut sauce.

I absolutely love the blend of flavors and textures here with the fresh cilantro and green onions, the crisp bell peppers and cabbage, the crunchy carrots, and that incredibly simple yet addictive slightly sweet, slightly sour,slightly salty, creamy peanut sauce.

This is the perfect side dish to your favorite Asian chicken recipes. Toss in some grilled chicken breasts and serve it up for lunch. Either way it’s going to be a win!

Asian Slaw Ingredients

For the Asian slaw base, you’ll need:

  • Shredded cabbage
  • Matchstick carrots
  • Bell pepper
  • Green onions
  • Cilantro

And for the creamy Thai peanut dressing, you’ll need:

  • Creamy peanut butter
  • Lime juice
  • Rice vinegar
  • Soy sauce
  • Honey
  • Brown sugar
  • Sesame oil
  • Sriracha
  • Ginger
  • Garlic

Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (2)

How to Make Asian Slaw

  • Prep the veggies, then add to a large salad bowl and toss to combine.
  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the Asian slaw dressing ingredients. Pour over veggies.
  • Toss slaw to distribute the dressing, then garnish with sesame seeds.

Can I Make This Slaw in Advance?

I wouldn’t recommend tossing the slaw with the dressing until you’re ready to eat it, just because the cabbage gets soggy as it sits in the dressing. If you want to prep this slaw in advance, I recommend tossing the vegetables together and storing them separately from the dressing. Simply combine everything once you’re ready to enjoy!

Is There a Peanut Butter Substitute I Can Use?

If you’re allergic to peanuts, you may be able to substitute tahini in the Asian slaw dressing. I haven’t tried this myself, but I’ve had readers report success with this substitution. Obviously, the flavor will be totally different from the recipe I made, but I think the slaw would still taste good.

Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (3)

Tips for the Best Asian Slaw

  • You don’t have to toast the sesame seeds before garnishing the slaw (although you totally can if you prefer the flavor of toasted sesame seeds!).
  • If you have a sesame allergy, you can omit the sesame oil in the dressing. The flavor won’t be quite as deep, but it will still be delicious.
  • You could make this slaw a meal by adding grilled chicken to it.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Classic Coleslaw
  • Garden Veggie Pasta Salad
  • Greek Orzo Salad
  • Cowboy Caviar
  • Quinoa, Black Bean and Mango Salad
  • Broccoli Apple Salad

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (4)

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Asian Slaw with Peanut Dressing

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A delicious Thai-inspired slaw salad made with crisp shredded cabbage, carrots, and bell pepper. It's tossed with a flavorful, creamy peanut dressing and served cold.

Servings: 6

Prep15 minutes minutes

Ready in: 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Salad

Dressing

Instructions

  • Add all salad ingredients to a a medium salad bowl and toss. In a mixing bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients until well combined (if needed you can season with a little salt).

  • Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can make the salad and dressing portion ahead of time, just refrigerate both separately and add dressing when ready to serve.Also, don't add the dressing to the full portion if you don't plan to eat it all right away, just add to individual servings.
  • Recipe source: inspired by Once Upon a Chef

Nutrition Facts

Asian Slaw with Peanut Dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 169Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 369mg16%

Potassium 365mg10%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 4555IU91%

Vitamin C 62.6mg76%

Calcium 51mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Thai

Keyword: Asian Salad, Peanut Dressing

Author: Jaclyn

Asian Slaw Recipe (with Creamy Peanut Dressing!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

Why is cole slaw called coleslaw? ›

The term "coleslaw" arose in the 18th century as an anglicisation of the Dutch term "koolsla" ("kool" in Dutch sounds like "cole") meaning "cabbage salad". The "cole" part of the word ultimately derives from the Latin caulis, meaning cabbage.

What to add to coleslaw reddit? ›

Little mayo (less than you think), white vinegar or red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, sugar or honey, kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. (Grate your own cabbage and don't buy nasty crap in a bag) If you must add celery seed then you add microscopic amounts just until you think you can taste it and then stop.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste, with a creamy texture. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinct flavor. The coleslaw also contains shredded cabbage and carrots, which add a crisp and fresh texture to the dish.

Why is coleslaw called John 14? ›

So familiar and faithful are we to this culinary combo that coleslaw is often referred to as John 14 – because, like the 14th chapter of the Gospel according to John, the cabbage salad is always present at important ceremonies. But just because we give food biblical names doesn't make it good for us.

Why did Chick Fil A stop serving slaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

What country invented coleslaw? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

How early should you put dressing on coleslaw? ›

Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and carrots. Toss gently to combine, making sure all the shreds are coated evenly. (If you're making this more than an hour or two ahead of your party, save a little dressing to toss with the salad just before serving.) Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

What does slaw mean? ›

Slaw comes from the Dutch sla, short for salade, or "salad." Definitions of slaw. basically shredded cabbage. synonyms: coleslaw. type of: salad.

What is the difference between cole slaw and cabbage salad? ›

While cabbage salad often consists only of one vegetable seasoned and dressed, coleslaw can include a few other ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or seasonings to give some variety to the dish. While both feature cabbage as the star of the show, the different dressings set the two apart.

What's the difference between a slaw and a salad? ›

A salad can contain various things. You know things like lettuce, carrots, celery, cucumbers and usually a dressing such as thousand island or ranch. Coleslaw can actually contain the carrots, celery, and even cucumbers but instead of lettuce it contains cabbage, and no lettuce.

What's the difference between kale slaw and coleslaw? ›

Cabbage as the base

Coleslaw always includes cabbage as the primary vegetable, while slaw can be made with various vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, kale, or Brussels sprouts.

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