Asian Slaw
Asian Slaw is where East meets West in a fantastic coleslaw dish that is full of bright Asian-inspired flavors and a traditional cabbage mix.
If you’re looking for something different and wonderfully flavorful for the potluck or to shake up a weeknight meal, Asian Slaw is the perfect side dish! Using a bag of coleslaw mix makes preparing this dish a cinch, along with fresh ingredients like scallions and cilantro and whipping an easy dressing of mayo, sriracha, lime, garlic, and fish sauce.
Inspired Side Dishes
I have the standard go-to dishes that I love for most potlucks or easy grilling nights but I’ll tell you when I break out this recipe it feels like a more special occasion! Even though I’m not making a complicated dish, Asian Slaw just has such bright and bold flavors that it makes dinner feel like I put some serious effort into it. The creamy dressing has just the right amount of sriracha too, it’s not so spicy that it overwhelms the slaw, and my mouth, but adds a smoky heat that pairs perfectly with the cooling cabbage and the acid from the lime. The crunchy noodles are also surprising bits of deliciousness that we all love and this slaw is a major hit every time I make it!
Other Recipes to Serve with Asian Slaw
- If you’ve got the grill going for dinner then Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings would be amazing with this Asian Slaw, and so easy to make too!
- Are you bummed because it’s a weeknight and you don’t have time to grill? Don’t fret, just break out the crockpot in the morning for delicious Crockpot Honey Sriracha Chicken at dinner!
Ingredients
To make the slaw
Veggies: You will need a bag of coleslaw mix or you can chop your own red and green cabbage and carrots. Scallions and cilantro are also needed.
Crunchy noodles: For the topping, grab some crunchy noodles, chow mein noodles, or wonton strips to give the slaw a delightful crunch.
To make the dressing
Condiments: You will need mayonnaise, sriracha, and fish sauce, which can be found in the Asian or global section of the grocery store. You will also need sugar.
Produce: For the lime juice you can use freshly squeezed lime or bottled lime juice. You will also need minced garlic.
How to Make Asian Slaw
STEP ONE: Mix the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl.
STEP TWO: In a large bowl, stir together the coleslaw mix, scallions, and cilantro.
STEP THREE: Toss with half of the dressing and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
STEP FOUR: When you’re ready to serve, add the crunchy noodles to the slaw and toss. If you prefer more dressing you can add that now. Then transfer the slaw to a serving bowl and garnish with more cilantro.
Tips for Success
- Any kind of crunchy noodle, chow mein noodle, or wonton strips can be used in this slaw, so go with what you can find at your local store or wherever you get your groceries.
- Do you need to make this vegetarian? Fish-less fish sauce can be found at most natural food stores or online. You can always skip the fish sauce and add a little soy sauce instead. Start with 1 teaspoon and taste the dressing- if it needs more then add it until you get the taste you like.
- Asian Slaw is a great make-ahead dish, but you don’t want to add the crunchy noodles until you’re ready to eat. Otherwise, they’ll get a little soggy.
What is Asian Slaw made of?
There are a few core elements to just about any Asian Slaw- cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and a dressing. The versatility of this slaw means that you can add other veggies that you love, like bell peppers or edamame, or leave out things you may not love, like cilantro. This slaw can be made with a creamy, sriracha dressing or with a vinaigrette. Toppings can vary as well, ranging from crunchy noodles to fried scallions or simply sesame seeds. Try a few variations and see what you love the most!
How long does Asian Slaw last?
Coleslaw in general lasts about 3 days. By around day two you will notice that the coleslaw looks a little watery so to fix that just add a little more dressing and toss. Again, this is the perfect side dish to make ahead of time because it does last so well but make sure it’s all gone by the third day!
More slaw ideas for more good eats at the picnic.
- Citrus Cilantro Slaw
- Carrot and Apple Slaw
- Brussel Sprouts, Purple Cabbage and Carrot Slaw
- Bahn Mi Slaw
- Asian Ramen Broccoli Slaw
*This post was originally posted on 07/09/2017.
Asian Slaw
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Coleslaw mix
- 3 green onions finely sliced on the diagonal
- ½ cup cilantro leaves plus more for garnish
- ¾ cup crunchy noodles
Asian Slaw Dressing
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha adjust to taste
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce adjust to taste for saltiness
- 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice adjust to taste
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Mix together the mayo, Sriracha, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and garlic in a small bowl or mason jar.
- Add the coleslaw mix, green onion, and cilantro into a large mixing bowl. Toss through with half the dressing. Set aside for 30 minutes to wilt slightly.
- Just before serving, toss the slaw with crunchy noodles and more dressing, if desired.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with extra cilantro.
Notes
- If you don’t have fish sauce, you can substitute soy sauce. The fish sauce won’t make the dressing taste fishy, it adds umami.
- If you can’t find crunch Asian noodles at the store, fried wonton strips or chow mein noodles work well to add some crunch.
