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This festive red cabbage slaw studded with pomegranate seeds, mandarin oranges and pistachios is a delicious and welcome addition to any table! It’s the perfect way to add a splash of colour and satisfying crunch to a holiday meal.

I love serving this slaw with Honey Glazed Ham!

Top down view of Festive Red Cabbage Slaw on a plate
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As the summer is definitely over, it’s tough not to miss all the colourful and vitamin packed fruits and vegetables. But does it really mean that we give up on vibrant plates once colder days arrive?

Absolutely not!

This red cabbage slaw could not be more beautiful. So many colours of the rainbow in this salad! And the taste definitely matches the bright palette.

Creamy red cabbage slaw

In my opinion the best coleslaw comes from a contrast of textures and flavours. Sweet and savoury. Soft and crunchy.

Then comes the dressing that pulls all of it together. You can go with a vinaigrette but the ultimate comfort food coleslaw should be creamy. Don’t you think?

So I dressed my red cabbage slaw with creamy yogurt based dressing spiked with freshly squeezed orange juice, a touch of mayonnaise and fragrant sumac spice.

close up of Festive Red Cabbage Slaw on a platter

Ingredients

I’ve wanted my coleslaw to be extra special, fitting for a holiday table. After all Thanksgiving and Christmas are not very far away!

And nothing screams winter holiday louder than mandarin oranges and pomegranates.

I’ve also use carrots cut in matchsticks, mint and cilantro for freshness and fragrance and beautiful pistachios for extra crunch.

The idea is to bring together a rainbow of colours ad textures into one beautiful salad. Because it is for a celebration, it’s important that it looks as good as it tastes!

Substitutions

  • You can safely substitute pistachios with any nuts you prefer. Almonds or walnuts will go especially well here.
  • Mandarin oranges could be replaced with any oranges, satsumas, clementines or even grapefruit.
  • Apples could be used in place of carrots.
  • Yogurt could be replaced with buttermilk or thinned out sour cream.
  • Sumac spice could be omitted.
Process shot of slaw ingredients in a bowl

Serving suggestions

I’ve developed this red cabbage recipe specifically for a holiday table. I believe this salad will compliment roast turkey, beef, pork or ham.

It is a perfect side dish that looks pretty for the occasion and tastes great. Because it is creamy, sweet, tart and so much more, it works to balance our a savoury meat dish.

However, don’t feel like you have to hold back on making it on regular weekdays. This festive red cabbage slaw will brighten any lunch or dinner. It’s a great salad option to jazz up whatever you are serving as it brings vibrant colours and flavours into the mix.

Top down view of Festive Red Cabbage Slaw on a plate with a spoon

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • This recipe is easier when made with the help of a mandolin and vegetable grater. These tools make preparing the carrots and cabbage much quicker, and make it easier to have them in evenly sized pieces.
  • If made a day or so ahead, the red from the cabbage may bleed into the dressing and create a pink colour for the slaw. To prevent this from happening, store the slaw and dressing separately and dress just before serving.

Storage and leftovers

Because of the yoghurt in the dressing, this coleslaw should be eaten within two days.

It is possible to freeze coleslaw but it will likely compromise the texture. Because the crunch of cabbage is so important to this recipe, I wouldn’t recommend freezing.

More holiday side dishes

5 from 5 votes

Festive Red Cabbage Slaw

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
This festive red cabbage slaw studded with pomegranate seeds, mandarin oranges and pistachios is a delicious and welcome addition to any table!
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Equipment

Ingredients 

For the yogurt dressing

  • 125 ml / 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sumac spice
  • salt to taste

For the red cabbage slaw

  • 1/2 head head /3 cups red cabbage, small
  • 2 carrots, cut in matchsticks or grated
  • 1 tbsp mint, chopped
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • 1/4 pomegranate
  • 3 mandarin oranges
  • 2-3 tbsp pistachios, shelled and chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 lemon , juice only

Instructions 

For the yogurt dressing

  • In a mason jar mix all dressing ingredients together, add salt to taste and set aside. 

For the red cabbage slaw

  • Slice the red cabbage thinly using a mandolin or a sharp knife. Cut the carrots in matchsticks or grate on a vegetable grater. Peel the mandarin oranges and separate into segments, cut each segment in half. 
  • Chop the mint and cilantro. In a large bowl combine the red cabbage, carrots, orange segments, herbs and season with salt.  Sprinkle with lemon juice and refrigerate for one hour for the cabbage to soften.
  • Before serving ddd the yogurt dressing and toss to coat. Arrange the red cabbage slaw on a platter and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and pistachios. Sprinkle with 1 tsp sumac (optional).

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 327mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4245IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Julia from Vikalinka

About Me

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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Recipe Rating




12 Comments

  1. Sandy says:

    I like making dressings with Greek yogurt. Would it alter the taste for this dressing? The pics are beautiful and really want to make this for Thanksgiving.

    1. vikalinka says:

      Greek yogurt is absolutely fine, Sandy. You might want to thin it out with a tablespoon of water when you finish to get a runnier consistency.

  2. Lucy Parissi says:

    5 stars
    I think red cabbage based salads and slaws top my favourites list. You make it look so beyond gorgeous though โ€“ I don’t think I have ever seen a slaw look so damned good!

    1. vikalinka says:

      Thank you, Lucy!! It’s easy to make it look pretty when ingredients themselves are gorgeous!

  3. Emma says:

    5 stars
    It’s not often I put fruit in salad but this sounds so fresh and delicious! Definitely one for my lunches this week.

    1. vikalinka says:

      I feel the same about fruit in salad but I felt like this one would definitely benefit from some sweetness!

  4. Anna says:

    5 stars
    It’s such a colorful and healthy salad!

    1. vikalinka says:

      Thanks so much, Anna!

  5. kellie@foodtoglow says:

    5 stars
    As a lover of colourful plant foods this beautifully photographed winter salad ticks all the boxes for me! Textures, nutrition and flavours too ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. vikalinka says:

      Aw thanks so much, Kellie. I am in love with this salad for the same reasons. I also love that it keeps well!

  6. Cat | Curly's Cooking says:

    5 stars
    This is so colourful, pretty and packed with tasty flavours!

    1. vikalinka says:

      Thanks, Cat! I love the colours as well!