Tangy & crisp Amish Coleslaw made with finely shredded cabbage, onion, and a tangy vinegar dressing. Budget-friendly, easy to make, and big on flavor.
Old fashioned Amish coleslaw is an American classic side dish that's perfect for summer gatherings. The tangy vinegar dressing and the crunchy cabbage are a match made in heaven.
![serving bowl of no mayonnaise coleslaw, Amish style.](https://smellslikedelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/coleslaw-without-mayo-vertical-1.jpg)
Why You Will Love This Recipe
It is made with simple ingredients, but the flavors are complex and delicious.
- Simple. Simple to make and uses simple, easy to source, budget friendly ingredients.
- Delicious. The vinegar based dressing is tangy and compliments the crisp shredded cabbage.
- Versatile. Serve it as a side dish, a topping for sandwiches, or with pulled pork sliders.
- Healthy. This old fashioned coleslaw is low in calories and fat.
Ingredients You'll Need
The key ingredients in this Pennsylvania Amish recipe are cabbage, onion, vinegar, sugar, oil, and spices. The cabbage is the star of the show, and it should be shredded as thinly as possible.
The onion adds a bit of sweetness and crunch, and the Amish vinegar dressing recipe brings it all together.
- Coleslaw mix - Or, shred 1 small head of cabbage.
- Carrot - Small carrot if not using a bag of coleslaw mix.
- Onion - Diced finely, yellow or green spring onions are best.
- Apple cider vinegar - Or, Red wine vinegar.
- Honey - Or, sugar.
- Vegetable oil
- Salt - To taste.
- Black pepper - To taste.
How to Make This Amish Recipe
This Pennsylvania Dutch salad is easy to make and can be customized easily. You can add carrots, red cabbage, or even fruit to the slaw. You can also adjust the amount of vinegar or sugar to your taste.
Place Shredded Cabbage In Bowl
- Empty the bag of coleslaw mix into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the finely diced onion, or the chopped green onions.
PRO TIP: Or, shred a small head of cabbage and one small carrot in your food processor instead of using pre made coleslaw mix.
Prepare Vinegar Coleslaw Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the Amish dressing over the bowl of coleslaw and onion.
Toss Coleslaw
- Pour the vinegar dressing over the bowl of shredded cabbage mixture.
- Toss to coat the shredded cabbage and chill for two hours or overnight before serving.
Tips for Success
- Let this salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
- This dressing can be used on vegetables or as a marinade for broiling or grilling.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few easy variations when making this old fashioned cabbage salad and coleslaw dressing.
- If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or even lemon juice.
- If you want a sweeter slaw, you can add more sugar to the dressing.
- Caraway seeds add a great flavor. Use about 1 tablespoon of whole caraway seeds in this recipe.
- Substitute red cabbage for some or all of the green cabbage.
Serving Suggestions
Old Fashioned Amish Coleslaw is a great side dish to serve with barbecue, fried chicken, or fish. You can also serve it as a topping for sandwiches or wraps. No matter how you serve it, coleslaw is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger meal.
- Smoked Brisket Flat
- Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sliders
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Storage and Freezing
- Cole slaw without mayonnaise can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze it for up to 2 months.
- To thaw, place it overnight in the refrigerator and then stir it well before serving.
Related Recipes
- Cabbage Varieties - All Super Foods
- Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Slow Cooker Old Fashioned Stuffed Peppers
- Air Fryer Cabbage
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making a this recipe for old fashioned coleslaw with vinegar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use mayonnaise instead of vinegar dressing. However, the slaw will not have the same tangy flavor. Keep in mind however that mayonnaise based coleslaw shouldn't be left out at room temperature.
This apple cider vinegar coleslaw will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. Simply prepare the slaw and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Delish Recipes
Amish Vinegar Dressing Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 16 oz slaw mix or small head of cabbage shredded
- 1 small carrot shredded if using head of cabbage
- ½ onion diced finely, or 5 green onions, chopped.
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon honey or sugar
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Empty the bag of coleslaw mix into a large mixing bowl.PRO TIP: Or, shred a small head of cabbage and one small carrot in your food processor instead of using pre made coleslaw mix.16 oz slaw mix, 1 small carrot
- Add the finely diced onion, or the chopped green onions.½ onion
- In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper.¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoon vegetable oil, salt, black pepper
- Pour the vinegar dressing over the bowl of shredded cabbage mixture.
- Toss to coat the shredded cabbage and chill for two hours or overnight before serving.
Notes
- Let this old fashioned cabbage salad with vinegar chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before serving. This will allow the flavors to blend.
- This vinegar dressing can be used on other vegetables, such as carrots, celery, or cucumbers. It can also be used as a marinade for chicken or fish.
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