Ranch-Flavored Cole Slaw (Gluten-Free)

This week for the Food Network’s #SummerSoiree we are all sharing our favorite ways to make slaw. Some call it coleslaw, and some just slaw, but no matter what name you give it, I love it. 

When I was little, I would go to picnics, Girl Scout dinners, or church socials and there was always a huge bowl of slaw on the table. No matter how many times I tried it or who made it, I hated it. It was slimy to me without much flavor. I was much happier with a big helping of macaroni salad. And then I grew up.

One day I decided to make it from scratch; slice a whole head of cabbage, grate in other vegetables and make a mayo-based dressing. It tasted amazing to me. Nice and crunchy with bold flavors from the fresh vegetables. This was nothing like the salads I had been served before. It was actually edible!

Because it was my first attempt and I didn’t know better, it really was cabbage swimming in a sea of dressing. I hadn’t learned to salt the cabbage yet to release some of the water before dressing the salad. Consequently, the dressing was thoroughly diluted. But even with that, it was still the best I’d ever had.

Since then I have tried many versions with different kinds of vegetable combinations. I always seem to come back to a fairly classic blend of cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers. With that base you can create a wide variety of flavor profiles to suit your tastes and to complement your other dishes.

Today’s version uses a homemade Ranch-style dressing – one of my favorites. I love the creamy goodness blended with thyme and dill, shallots and green onions, and kissed with a touch of fresh lemon juice. I could eat this every day!

I call this kind of slaw “Confetti” because the finely chopped vegetables look like pieces of confetti in the slaw. It is a party in a bowl!!

I hope you enjoy this salad and that it takes its place on your table soon!

Jane’s Tips and Hints:

If you to make your cole slaw easier for your family and guests to eat, cut the longer shreds of cabbage in half or thirds, more bite-sized. They will not need a knife and that will make it much simpler, especially when you are eating outdoors.

Gluten-Free Tips:

This recipe is naturally gluten-free!

Ranch-Flavored Cole Slaw (Gluten-Free)

2015-06-19 20:27:07

Yields 8

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

1. Dressing:
2. 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
3. 1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise
4. 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
5. 1/2 tsp sugar, optional
6. 1/4 tsp very finely minced fresh garlic
7. 2 tsp minced fresh chives or very finely minced green onion
8. 1/2 tsp dried mustard
9. 1-1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
10. 1/4 tsp dried dill weed
11. Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12. Slaw:
13. 1 small head green cabbage, cored, quartered and each piece very thinly sliced
14. Kosher salt
15. 1 red bell pepper, cored and finely chopped
16. 1/2 yellow bell pepper, cored and finely chopped
17. 3 carrots, peeled and shredded
18. 2 celery stalks, trimmed and finely chopped
19. 1/2 small red onion, peeled and very finely chopped

Instructions

1. Make the Dressing:
2. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth. Add sugar, garlic, chives, mustard, thyme and dill. Whisk again until everything is evenly distributed.
3. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours to give flavors a chance to blend. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. The dressing can be used right away, but for the best flavor, return it to the refrigerator and leave overnight. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings if needed. Dress the slaw the following day.
4. Prepare the Cole Slaw:
5. Place the cabbage in a colander and liberally sprinkle with salt. Toss lightly and sprinkle on a little more salt. Set the colander over a large bowl and set aside for 30 to 45 minutes. The salt will leach out most of the water from the cabbage, leaving it crispier.
6. Rinse the cabbage very well under cool running water, making sure that all the salt has been removed. Set the colander aside again to drain thoroughly, shaking it occasionally.
7. Assemble the Cole Slaw:
8. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the cabbage and prepared vegetables. Toss to evenly mix everything together. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the dressing and toss to coat all the vegetables evenly. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more dressing if desired. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. If any extra liquid accumulates while it is resting, drain before serving.

Notes

1. Yield: about 6 to 8 servings

By © 2014 Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook. All rights reserved.

The Heritage Cook ® https://theheritagecook.com/

Create a New Tradition Today!

This recipe is part of Food Network’s weekly Sensational Sides. See the links below for more inspiration and great recipes and see our Pinterest page for more fun!

Feed Me Phoebe: Healthy Broccoli Slaw with Yogurt-Mint Dressing
The Heritage Cook: Ranch-Flavored Cole Slaw (Gluten-Free)
Weelicious: Grated Vegetable Slaw
Daily*Dishin: Pineapple Jalapeno Coleslaw
Virtually Homemade: Sweet and Spicy Mexican Slaw
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Apple Cider Coleslaw
Red or Green: Purple Cabbage Slaw with Honey/Chipotle Vinaigrette
Devour: Coleslaw Around the World
Sweet Life Bake: Cumin-Lime Coleslaw
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Vegan Coleslaw
Swing Eats: Thai Coleslaw
Taste With The Eyes: Spicy Rainbow Slaw
FN Dish: 4 Tricks for Shredded Slaw Glory

Let’s connect! If you love The Heritage Cook, you can follow me on Pinterest or Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook. If you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, need to alter a recipe for gluten-free, or want recipe suggestions, don’t hesitate to email me ([email protected]).Thanks for reading!

Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. This includes copying and reprinting content and photographs. If you have any questions or would like permission, I can be contacted via email ([email protected]). Feel free to quote me, just give credit where credit is due, link to the recipe, and please send people to my website, www.theheritagecook.com. Please see the Disclaimers page for additional details.

This site is not intended to provide medical advice. The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. It is the reader’s sole responsibility to determine which foods are appropriate and safe for their family to consume. Always consult your doctor. The author makes no claims regarding the presence of food allergens and disclaims all liability in connection with the use of this site.

Thank You!