This easy 5 minute Asian slaw is the perfect quick and flavor packed side salad. It’s quick, delicious, and a perfect side dish for dinner or to take to a potluck. You can buy a bag of slaw and quickly make the dressing for the easiest homemade side dish.
[This recipe was originally posted in January 2019. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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I made Asian chicken wings for Sprouts and was just dying to have a bright, flavor packed coleslaw to accompany it. It’s bright, bursting with flavor, and really easy. This coleslaw is also great with Chicken Burgers or Instant Pot Pulled Pork.
How will this Asian slaw make your life easier?
Whether you want an easy light salad to accompany dinner or you’ve been asked to bring a side dish, this Asian slaw is the perfect easy salad to bring. It’s made with simple ingredients, only takes 5 minutes to make, and is bursting with flavor.
Coleslaws are a great way to use up extra cabbage & are a fun way to bring veggies to an event. You can also make this red wine vinegar coleslaw if you’re looking for a different flavor profile.
What makes this coleslaw so good?
- Red pepper
- Green onion
- Soy sauce
- Lemon juice
- Neutral oil
- Sesame oil
- Shredded coleslaw
How do I make Asian slaw?
Start by adding 1/2 chopped whole bell pepper and 1 sliced green onion to a mixing bowl.
Expert Tip: Use any color of bell pepper. Red, orange, and yellow will be sweeter, and green will be less expensive.
Pour 1.5 T soy sauce, 1 T lemon juice, 1 T canola oil, and 1/2 T sesame oil into the veggie mixture.
Expert Tip: Mix dressing in separate bowl if you won’t eat the whole salad at once. You can also easily double the dressing to keep leftovers for other recipes listed below.
Mix together well. Acid in this dressing will soften the pepper and onion slightly.
Dump 1/2 bag of coleslaw mix into a mixing bowl (or about 2 cups shredded cabbage & other veggies). Mix together well. Serve and enjoy.
Serve this coleslaw with Instant Pot Asian chicken wings
Expert Tips
- Use any color of bell pepper. Red, orange, and yellow will be sweeter, and green will be less expensive.
- Mix dressing in separate bowl if you won’t eat the whole salad at once. You can also easily double the dressing to keep leftovers for other recipes listed below.
FAQ
What is Asian slaw made of?
Use cabbage, bell pepper, green onion and a few ingredients to make an easy dressing. This asian slaw recipe shows you how easy it is.
How do you make coleslaw dressing from scratch?
There are lots of different coleslaw dressing recipes. Just whisk the ingredients together and add to your cabbage and other veggies. If you’ll eat the whole salad in one sitting, just mix the dressing in the serving bowl and add veggies after. This will save you dishes to wash.
How do you shred cabbage?
There are a couple ways to shred cabbage easily. Start by peeling off the outside leaves and slicing in half. You can then cut out the core/stem. Put the cut side down and slice thinly with a chef’s knife. Use a food processor or mandolin to shred it even quicker. Wash after shredding. Use immediately or store for later.
Ways to repurpose this recipe
Hate being left with 1/2 bag of cabbage? Make more later or save the cabbage & dressing for other recipes.
- Double the dressing to use in some of the recipes below
- Sautee up some bok choy, green beans, cabbage, or hearty greens and season with some of this dressing! yum
- Marinade chicken, shrimp, or fish in this dressing then use how you’d like.
- Use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls
- Just add rotisserie chicken to the salad for an easy weeknight dinner or lunch
- Use remaining cabbage in tacos, in another coleslaw recipe, or on a sandwich
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- (cabbage) Rainbow Coleslaw, Korean Beef Bulgogi, Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
- (red pepper) Veggie quesadilla, vegetarian hash, sautee & add to this egg sandwich, fig & prosciutto pizza
- (green onion) top these black bean tacos or beef & broccoli.
- (lemon juice) Healthy strawberry sauce or this copycat passion tea lemonade
Did you make this Asian slaw? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
5 Minute Asian Coleslaw
Equipment
- knife
- cutting board
- medium mixing bowl
- tablespoon measuring spoon
- tongs
Ingredients
- 1/2 whole red pepper sliced
- 1 whole green onion sliced thinly
- 1.5 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 pound bag shredded coleslaw
Instructions
- Add all ingredients of dressing to a small mason jar (with a lid): soy sauce, lemon juice, oil & sesame oil. Put lid on jar and shake. Set aside
- Mix together coleslaw and red peppers. Add salad dressing just prior to serving. Save remaining dressing to use on other vegetables or as a marinade.
- Chop up 1/2 whole red bell pepper and 1 green onion. Place in medium mixing bowl.
- Pour in 1.5 T soy sauce, 1 T lemon juice, 1 T canola oil, and 1/2 T sesame oil over chopped vegetables. Mix together.
- Add 1/2 bag coleslaw (or 2 cups shredded cabbage) to dressed vegetables, mix together. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Use any color of bell pepper. Red, orange, and yellow will be sweeter, and green will be less expensive.
- If not serving whole recipe at once, mix dressing in separate bowl and mix together prior to eating.
- You can shred your own cabbage and other veggies too, but using a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw will be easier and save you time
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Caitlyn Erhardt says
This is the best slaw ever! Love how fast it comes together and always yummy.
Rebecca says
great to hear
Daniela says
That’s wonderful salad, nice and fresh! I love the added bell peppers. Thank you for the recipe, Rebecca!
Rebecca says
thanks!
Anita says
Using a bag of shredded coleslaw is so smart. It cuts a lot of the prep work compared to starting with a head of cabbage. 🙂
Rebecca says
totally! it’s a game changer
Diana Reis says
Love the peppers and green onion in this. It was so light and refreshing.
Rebecca says
right, they’re so good! thanks
Kristen says
This was so easy to make and tasty. Thank you for the great recipe!
Rebecca says
great to hear!