How I Make Better Slaws + 2 Easy Recipes

These two fresh and vibrant salads showcase how simple ingredients can be transformed into exciting dishes that bring new life to everyday cabbage. Both recipes celebrate the versatility of this humble vegetable, taking it in completely different flavor directions while maintaining the satisfying crunch and texture that makes cabbage such a wonderful base for salads. Whether you’re looking for something with subtle, European-influenced flavors or bold Asian-inspired dishes, these recipes prove that cabbage can be the star of truly memorable meals.

The first recipe takes a simpler but delicious approach with an apple and dill slaw that relies on the natural sweetness of Granny Smith apples and the bright, fragrant notes of fresh dill, all brought together with a light lemon and olive oil dressing. The second is an aromatic Asian-style salad that combines tender shredded chicken with a punchy dressing featuring lime, fish sauce, and fresh herbs like coriander and mint, finished with crushed peanuts for extra texture. Both dishes come together quickly and offer fantastic ways to enjoy cabbage that go far beyond traditional coleslaw, proving that with the right combinations, this affordable vegetable can create dishes that are both satisfying and sophisticated.

Polish Style Apple and Dill Slaw (Surówka z Kapusty)

This simple yet distinctive slaw comes together quickly with just a few fresh ingredients that create something special. The recipe begins with a grated Granny Smith apple, chosen specifically for its tart flavour and crisp texture that complements the dish perfectly. Half of the prepared cabbage is then added along with fresh dill leaves, which are delicately picked from six stems by hand, pulling the fragile herb apart with fingers directly into the bowl to preserve its bright flavour.

The dressing keeps things beautifully simple, using cracked black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and an optional heaped teaspoon of sugar that helps balance the lemon’s acidity without making the slaw sweet. Everything is mixed thoroughly to ensure the apple and dill are evenly distributed throughout the crisp cabbage. The result is a refreshing slaw that the cook notes has similarities to a Polish dish, though this version includes olive oil for added richness.

What makes this slaw particularly appealing is its perfect texture and flavour balance – the cabbage remains crisp without being woody or soggy, while the combination of tart apple, fragrant dill, and bright lemon creates a fresh, flavorful side dish that’s both interesting and accessible. This recipe proves how simple ingredients, when combined thoughtfully, can create something truly satisfying.
Ingredients

Polish Style Apple and Dill Slaw (Surówka z Kapusty)

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Ingredients

• Half a medium head of white cabbage, salted and drained (see video) (400- 500g)
• 1 apple, grated
• A handful of dill
• Pepper
• 50ml olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Juice from 1 lemon

Instructions

1. Grate one tart apple, such as a Granny Smith.
2. Add half of a sliced cabbage to the bowl (salted and drained - see video)
3. Pick the leaves from six stems of fresh dill and add them to the bowl.
4. Add a few cranks of cracked black pepper.
5. Pour in around 50ml of extra-virgin olive oil.
6. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon.
7. Add a heaped teaspoon of sugar (optional, to balance acidity).
8. Mix everything thoroughly, making sure the apple and dill are evenly distributed.

Vietnamese Style

This vibrant Asian-inspired salad begins with a foundation of thinly sliced cabbage mixed with fresh aromatics and herbs. The recipe combines sliced red chillies and brown onion with generous handfuls of coriander and mint leaves. Tender strands of gently pan-cooked chicken breast are added to provide protein, with the chicken prepared simply with oil and salt before being cooled and shredded into pieces that match the size of the cabbage.

The magic of this dish lies in its dressing, which brings together bold Southeast Asian flavours in perfect harmony. The dressing starts with fresh lime zest and juice, combined with grated garlic, rice wine vinegar, and fish sauce. A touch of sugar balances the tangy and umami elements, creating a sauce that’s described as “packed full of flavour and really simple.” Everything is mixed thoroughly to ensure the dressing coats every ingredient evenly.

The finished salad is completed with crushed toasted peanuts for added texture and flavour, though crispy shallots serve as an equally delicious traditional alternative. This fresh, fragrant creation offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes, transforming simple cabbage into what I call “a party in a bowl” that takes familiar ingredients in an exciting new direction.

Vietnamese Style

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Ingredients

• 2.5 cups finely sliced green cabbage
• Red chillies sliced
• 1/2 brown onion sliced
• Handful of coriander/cilantro
• A smaller handful of mint
• 1 x Chicken breast

Dressing

• 1 x lime zested and juiced
• 1 x garlic clove, minced
• 80ml / 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
• 30ml / 2 tablespoons fish sauce (if you don’t like/have fish sauce, then use soy sauce)
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Toppings

• Crispy shallots
• Toasted peanuts

Instructions

1. Add half of a sliced cabbage to the bowl (salted and drained - see video)
2. Add two thinly sliced red chillies.
3. Add half of a thinly sliced brown onion.
4. Add a handful of coriander leaves and a handful of mint leaves, picking them apart directly into the bowl.
5. Add one cooked chicken breast, shredded into small strands similar in size to the cabbage pieces.
6. (To prepare the chicken: gently cook it in a pan with a little oil and salt, let it cool, then shred.)
7. Prepare the dressing:

• Zest one whole lime into a separate bowl.
• Add the juice from that same lime.
• Grate in one small garlic clove.
• Add 80ml of rice wine vinegar.
• Add 30ml of fish sauce (or light soy sauce as a substitute).
• Add 2 tablespoons of sugar.
• Mix well

8. Pour the dressing into the salad bowl.

9. Mix everything thoroughly, ensuring the dressing coats all ingredients evenly.

10. Finish by adding some crushed toasted peanuts on top. (Optional: crispy shallots can be used instead.)