Black Folks Soul Food Southern Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw is a classic side dish perfect for pairing with smokey BBQ meats and a great accompaniment with a pulled pork sandwich.

Whether you’re throwing an epic cookout, preparing for a football tailgate party, or craving some down-home cooking, this recipe for soul food Southern coleslaw will hit the spot!

Apple cider vinegar adds a little tang, sugar sweetens it, and red and green cabbage, celery, onion, and grated carrots add color, texture, and flavor. Each bite will have you falling in love with this sweet Southern coleslaw taste bud pleaser.

This tasty, classic side dish will become a staple of your recipe box once you start grilling hamburgers, ribeye steaks, or slow-smoked chicken.

This coleslaw is a family favorite and my mom’s actual recipe!

How do Black people make coleslaw?

The same question is often asked like this:

“How do you make a killer coleslaw?”

And the answer is always the same – with flavor!

Not only do Black folks like Southern coleslaw – we love it, something fierce likesoul food potato salad!

There’s just something special about that soul food sweet and tangy dressing that pairs beautifully with grilled meats, fried catfish, barbecue chicken, ribs, hot dogs, andbuttermilk fried chicken.

And a pinch of cayenne pepper for sweet heat! Enlivening the taste buds exactly the way coleslaw is supposed to.

What is Southern-style coleslaw?

Is coleslaw a Southern food? Do folks in the South havesweet tearunning through their veins?

Yep! Coleslaw is a staple in many Southern meals. A cold cabbage salad and classic combination of cabbage and carrots.

Traditional Southern coleslaw recipes call for shredded raw cabbage and carrots mixed with mayonnaise to make a sweet, creamy Southern coleslaw.

The salad dressing is incorporated right into the slaw to create a quick, easy, and delicious side dish for any meal.

Coleslaw is most commonly served at barbecues and other outdoor gatherings to balance the seasoning and heat of flavorful meat dishes.

How do you make easy Southern coleslaw?

The rich and creamy Southern coleslaw dressing is a classic combination of ingredients.

How do you make this coleslaw from scratch?

Or how do you make creamy coleslaw?

To make it, you’ll use an amount of dressing so light that it won’t weigh you down. The mayo, apple cider vinegar, and mustard add a great flavor that complements the vegetables.

A hint of sweetness comes from some sugar or, if preferred, naturally-flavored Stevia extract or lemon juice for an extra zing!

What is the best coleslaw dressing?

A homemade Black folks soul food Southern coleslaw recipe! Check out the video and instructions below.

Kitchen equipmentfor Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw

• Chef’s knife

or…

• Food processor
• Cutting board

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Diamond Sharp Knife | KitchenAid food processor | Amazon similar wooden cutting board | Cuisinart similar cutting board | Anthropologie cloth napkin | Amazon similar white salad bowl | Amazon similar glass serving bowl |

Ingredients for Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw

• 4 cups of green cabbage, shredded
• 4 cups of red cabbage, shredded (same as purple cabbage)
• ½ a cup of carrots, shredded
• ½ a cup of celery, diced
• ½ a cup of onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon of mustard
• 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• ½ a teaspoon of dill weed
• ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional for you – but we always include it!)
• 1 ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme

How do you make Black coleslaw?

Instructions for Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw

1. Use a chef’s knife or food processor to shred the cabbage and carrots. I like to coarsely shred the green cabbage and finely shred the red.
2. Use the knife or food processor to dice the celery and onion.
3. Add the shredded cabbage to a large bowl, and then add the carrots, celery, and onion.
4. Next, sprinkle in the sugar, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
5. Then add the mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar to the cabbage mixture.
6. Stir and fold the ingredients into each other until thoroughly combined.
7. Serve Black folks soul food Southern coleslaw right away, or for cold coleslaw, cover and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
8. Garnish with fresh sprigs of thyme, serve, and enjoy!

Check out these best Southern cabbage recipes!

Do you have a coleslaw recipe without mayo?

What should you serve with Southern coleslaw?

So what do you eat with coleslaw?

Southern US states serve coleslaw with almost every barbecue. Especially pulled pork or pulled BBQ chicken.

What meat goes with coleslaw?

It’s also commonly served with pork, fish, and poultry.

What sandwich goes with coleslaw?

Coleslaw has always been popular with pulled pork BBQ sandwiches and hamburgers. So much that in the South, coleslaw is like French fries to sandwiches!

Black folks soul food Southern coleslaw FAQs

How long does it take to make this Southern coleslaw recipe?

Making the recipe takes around 15 minutes.

Can you make Southern coleslaw ahead of time?

How long should coleslaw sit before serving?

It’s best to prepare the dressing, then refrigerate it for a few hours before serving.

Can you make coleslaw in advance?

You can also make soul food coleslaw ahead of time and add the dressing right before serving. The reason is that cabbage gets soft as it absorbs moisture from the dressing.

If you wish to avoid this, you should make the dressing in a separate bowl and add it to the cabbage and other veggies mixture only a few hours before serving it.

What kind of cabbage do you use to make coleslaw?

Red and green cabbage are the most famous cabbage varieties used to make coleslaw. They are both excellent choices, as they have many vitamins and minerals.

Green cabbage is the most widely available and is a great choice when making coleslaw. Red cabbage is a bit sweeter in flavor than green cabbage and adds a stubble taste and color to your coleslaw.

This Black folk’s soul food Southern coleslaw recipe calls for both.

How do you make shredded cabbage?

Coarsely shred the green cabbage and finely slice the red using a chef’s knife.

What do you use to shred cabbage?

You can shred the cabbage using a chef’s knife or a food processor for added ease.

Should you put onions in coleslaw?

Onions have been used in coleslaw for ages. The intense flavor profile of onions compliments the delicate flavors of the cabbage, carrots, celery, and mayonnaise used in making coleslaw.

It’s essential in coleslaw to balance the different flavors in the dish, so adding onions is a great idea!

What kind of vinegar do you use for coleslaw?

The apple cider vinegar in this recipe acts as a natural preservative, so you can make it and store it in the fridge for up to three days before serving.

What spices go in coleslaw?

Some of the spices in a coleslaw mix are mustard, pepper, sugar, vinegar, cayenne, salt, pepper, thyme, and dill.

Some Southern recipes include celery salt or celery seed, cumin, garlic powder, dry mustard, onion powder, or an alternative tang like buttermilk (apple cider vinegar + milk) for buttermilk coleslaw.

What kind of sauce do you use in coleslaw?

So what is the best coleslaw dressing?

In my opinion, either mayonnaise or Miracle Whip works best.

A good slaw mix will have just enough dressing to lightly coat the shredded carrots and cabbage and bind the ingredients together.

How do you make coleslaw with Miracle Whip?

The same way you make a slaw recipe with mayonnaise.

How do you make coleslaw not watery?

Do you wash cabbage for coleslaw?

Yes, but make sure to dry the vegetables well before mixing them.

Why does coleslaw get watery?

Using dry vegetables will ensure that the cabbage and carrots don’t hold excess water.

After mixing, cover the coleslaw and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour.

What is KFC coleslaw made of?

KFC coleslaw which goes with their famousfried chickenconsists of a blend of sweet and savory flavorings. The main ingredient in KFC’s coleslaw mix includes cabbage, but it also contains carrots, onions, sugar, water, soybean oil, and distilled vinegar for seasoning.

Additionally, KFC includes corn syrup for additional texture. For spices and seasonings, KFC usually uses salt and vinegar. Typically used on salads because they add a sweet flavor while maintaining a piquant taste.

While I’ve never tried to reproduce KFC cole slaw or slaw like Church’s Chicken or Popeye’s. I can say that unlike an authentic Black folk’s classic Southern coleslaw recipe, these commercialized recipes do not include the savory soul food flavors of cayenne pepper, mustard, thyme, or dill.

How far in advance can you make coleslaw?

If you want your coleslaw to be crunchy and tender, it’s recommended that you make it no more than 24 hours in advance.

Try serving your coleslaw at most 8 hours after mixing all the ingredients.

Can you freeze coleslaw dressing?

Mayo-based dressings do not freeze well like vinegar and oil-based dressings. The mayo-based will separate and its consistency will change.

You can prepare the coleslaw and freeze it without mixing it before serving, so it will still be good.

How long does fresh coleslaw last?

How long can you keep homemade coleslaw in the fridge? This healthy coleslaw recipe will last in the refrigerator for five days if stored properly.

Keep coleslaw fresh by placing it in an air-tight container in the fridge.

What additional vegetables can be added to sweet coleslaw?

Vegetables like bell pepper, green onion, and yellow or white onion are other vegetables included in some Southern coleslaw recipes.

Can you eat coleslaw on keto?

Absolutely! Coleslaw is aperfect keto side dish. Cabbage is keto-friendly, and mayo adds healthy fat to your keto diet.

What do you think about this Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw recipe?

Have you had it?

Would you make it?

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