Mediterranean Cabbage Salad (No Mayo)

You'll love this extra crunchy and bright Mediterranean Cabbage Salad, a no-mayo coleslaw with loads of fresh veggies, herbs, toasted almonds, and a zippy Dijon vinaigrette! This is the perfect make-ahead salad, and it comes together in 20 minutes!

An easy coleslaw without mayo

Everyone seems to have a favorite cabbage salad or coleslaw, and mine, no surprise here, takes on a bold Mediterranean twist with a few surprising elements I love!

First off, in this no-mayo slaw, mayonnaise is traded for a bright vinaigrette that relies on Dijon mustard and good extra virgin olive oil (I like a robust peppery EVOO for this like Greek Early Harvest or Spanish Hojiblanca EVOO). Then, to add all sorts of bold colors and crunch, I throw in red bell peppers, carrots, radish, green onions, and loads of fresh herbs. Last but not least, toasted sliced almonds add a subtle nuttiness that takes it to next level delicious!

This may have started as simply making an easy coleslaw without mayo, but the end result is far more. Sure, this crunchy cabbage salad makes a great side dish, and I've used it as a topping on salmon burgers and lamb burgers. And because it's the perfect make-ahead salad, I've enjoyed it for lunch several days in a row!

What you'll need to make it

This fresh cabbage salad is made with crisp, fresh vegetables and topped with an easy homemade mustard vinaigrette.

For the cabbage salad dressing

• Dijon mustard - Adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the vinaigrette.
• Lime - 2 limes
• Garlic - 2 fresh cloves, minced
• Extra virgin olive oil - You can check out my favorite olive oils here. If you like something robust for your salads like I do, try Greek Early Harvest or Spanish Hojiblanca EVOO
• Sumac - I use it in both the vinaigrette and salad. Sumac adds tang and depth.
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes - Optional red pepper flakes at just a pinch of heat.

For the cabbage salad

• Cabbage - A combination of both green and red cabbage to add a variety in color but also flavor. Though the two are similar, red cabbage is slightly sweeter.
• Carrots - Carrots add mild flavor and a lot of crunch to this salad.
• Green onions - Both the white and green parts of the green onion are used in this coleslaw.
• Red bell pepper - You can also use orange bell pepper, which has a similar taste.
• Radishes - Thinly sliced radishes add a zesty bite to the salad.
• Fresh herbs - A combination of parsley and dill elevate the flavors of this salad.
• Sumac - This secret seasoning made from ground sumac berries adds is tangy, earthy, very slightly smokey all at the same time. Once you try it, you'll find many uses for sumac beyond this delicious slaw. You can use it to season a tomato salad; to rub on meats, chicken, or fish; or to jazz up some layered hummus dip. Find our all-natural sumac here.
• Toasted sliced almonds - You can easily toast your own or buy a package at the store.

How to make Mediterranean cabbage salad

This no-mayo cabbage salad recipe is easy to make. It's a matter of whisking a simple dressing and chopping up the cabbage and veggies (and yes, you can save time by using a food processor to shred the cabbage)

• Make the mustard vinaigrette. Whisk together the mustard, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, and spices.
• Prepare the salad. Combine the cabbage, vegetables, herbs, toasted almonds in a large bowl. Season with salt and sumac. Toss to combine.
• Add the vinaigrette. Pour the vinaigrette over the cabbage salad. Toss to combine.
• Chill and serve. If you can, let the salad rest for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors time to meld.

Tips for success

With a salad this easy, there's only a few things to keep in mind when preparing it.

• Give the coleslaw time to absorb the dressing. This healthy cabbage salad is best when it's had at least 30 minutes to rest but I like to give it an hour or so in the fridge. This really allows the cabbage and vegetables time to soak up the zesty flavors of the vinaigrette.
• Use fresh, crisp vegetables. With a dish so focused on vegetables, it's essential to choose ones that are at their peak of freshness. Each vegetable should be firm and crunchy when you bite into it, not soft or overripe.
• Make extra vinaigrette. Double the vinaigrette recipe and use the other half on other salads and dishes throughout the week!

Serve it with

There are so many ways to use this gorgeous healthy cabbage salad to elevate a meal. You can use it as a side next to things like baked cod, chicken drumsticks, or grilled lamb kabobs. Or use it as coleslaw to jazz up sandwiches from salmon burger to chicken gyro wraps, if you like.

And let's not forget about the dijon vinaigrette - once you try it on this coleslaw without mayo, you'll be looking for more reasons to make it! You can serve this easy mustard vinaigrette over any salad. It makes a great replacement to a typical vinaigrette or Italian dressing. Try it over a big salad of leafy greens and your favorite vegetables!

How to store leftovers

The great thing about a cabbage salad, especially one without mayo, is that it can be even better the next day, making it ideal for lunch throughout the week. Just store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, in a covered container.

More easy salad recipes:

• Mediterranean-Style Mango Salad
• Greek Salmon Salad
• Healthy Chicken Salad (No Mayo)
• Mediterranean Tomato Feta Salad
• Faro Salad with Argula and Feta
  

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