Cilantro & Lime Coleslaw

One rarely thinks of coleslaw as a health promoting food, but it can be! If you subtract the mayo and white sugar the humble cabbage can be transformed into a nutrient-packed coleslaw fit for any picnic, holiday party or meal for that matter! In fact, cabbage is known throughout the world to be a superb healing food. And what better way to reap the benefits than a with a heaping serving of coleslaw?

Purple cabbage

A cup of slaw may keep the doctor away…

That’s right! Here are a few of many benefits that may convince you to add the humble cabbage to your daily diet.

• Cabbage is a storehouse to many phyto-nutrients like indole-3-carbinol, lutein, zeaxanthin, sulfur and isothiocyantes. These are powerful antioxidants known to protect against breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

• It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, more so than oranges. Regular consumption of vitamin C builds immunity and helps the body resist infectious agents, and scavenges for harmful pro-inflammatory free radicals.

• Fresh cabbage is anti-inflammatory and alkalizing.

• Rich in B-1, B-5 and B-6, vitamins necessary for many essential organ functions, especially heart and liver.

• High in minerals such as potassium, manganese, magnesium and iron.

• Full of necessary fiber that promotes healthy transit of food through the colon.

• Due to high levels of vitamin C and sulfur, cabbage makes an excellent blood purifier.

On to making the slaw!

To make your slaw more appealing to the eye, you can use green and purple cabbage with carrots. For a unique flavor with a little zing, try tossing in chopped green onions. If you only have one type of cabbage and/or no carrots and green onion, this recipe is still as delicious. It’s the dressing that makes the difference.

Dressing

The secret weapon to this slaw recipe is my cilantro lime dressing. Typically, vegan slaws are made with faux mayonnaise full of soy and canola oil, two big no no’s on the yogitrition diet plan. I opted to use one of my favorite dressings made from tahini instead. It’s creamy, tangy and full of flavor! I always have a jar of homemade tahini in my fridge. However, if you’re short on time or don’t have a food processor, you can always pick up a jar at the health food store. I recommend buying raw if you can.

Adding organic raisins and sunflower seeds is a nice way to boost the nutrition content of your slaw. They also add more sweetness and crunch.

This recipe is pretty versatile, so feel free to tweak the ingredients as you like. I personally like to make a little more of the dressing than the recipe calls for. Go play and have fun. It’s pretty hard to mess this up.

This is truly a delectable coleslaw that can be enjoyed by everyone. Trust me, no one will know it’s not made with mayo. I recommend making a heaping batch and store it in the fridge. You can add a side to your breakfast, lunch and dinner! It also makes a great holiday or picnic side dish.

If you have a favorite vegan slaw recipe I’d love for you to tell me about it in the comments section below. Also please share the love on twitter, facebook, pinterest or anywhere else you can think. This recipe is too good to go unnoticed!