Simple Crunchy Purple Cabbage Slaw

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This purple cabbage slaw is a cinch to make. Simple, crunchy and colorful it's the perfect slaw for tacos and pulled pork.

a close-up of shredded purple cabbage with cilantro and green onion

This simple slaw recipe is the best when you want a refreshing, crunchy slaw to serve with everything from tofu tacos and pulled pork to sloppy Joes.

Looking for more purple cabbage recipes? Try kielbasa, cabbage and potatoes with dill vinaigrette.

If you like green cabbage, try Instant Pot white bean, cabbage and tomato soup or buttery Instant Pot cabbage.

a bowl of purple cabbage slaw garnished with cilantro

Ingredients

This simple recipe needs just six ingredients, plus salt.

Cabbage: The bright color of purple cabbage (also called red cabbage) is a favorite for this recipe, but you can also substitute green cabbage.

Green onion: Green onion adds a contrasting pop of color with purple cabbage. However, you can substitute thinly sliced red onion if you like. If the flavor of red onion is too bold for you, try soaking the red onion slices in ice water for 20 to 30 minutes. This will mellow the flavor but keep the texture crisp.

Cilantro: Pluck whole leaves off the stem and add the cilantro leaves to the slaw. Or, finely chop the cilantro, your choice! If you don't like cilantro, then parsley can be substituted.

Lime juice and red wine vinegar: This recipe uses a combination of fresh lime juice and red wine vinegar to give the coleslaw its tangy flavor. If you love the flavor of lime, you can go ahead and use only lime juice.

If you really like tangy coleslaw, you'll probably want to add one more tablespoon of either lime juice or vinegar.

Oil: Just 1 tablespoon of neutral-flavored oil helps bring together the flavors of the coleslaw without making it taste oily or heavy. Olive oil can give coleslaw a slightly bitter flavor, so I usually don't use it. Instead, try sunflower, avocado or canola oil.

Salt: Don't underestimate the amount of salt that is needed to give coleslaw flavor. Start with ¼ teaspoon of table salt, then add more salt to boost the flavor. You can also add more lime juice to boost the flavor.

Recipe Variations and Add Ins

You can change the flavor of this purple cabbage slaw by adding additional veggies, hot peppers, spices and/or different types of oil.

You can turn this slaw into a main course salad by adding shredded or diced chicken, salmon or tofu.

Grated carrot - Grated carrot adds color and crunch.
Red bell pepper - Thinly sliced bell pepper adds color and bell pepper flavor.
Jalapeno - Add heat by seeding and thinly slicing a jalapeño pepper.
Sugar - Sprinkling ¼ to ½ teaspoon of white sugar over the coleslaw will give it a hint of sweetness and make it taste less tangy.
Cumin or chili powder - If this is slaw for tacos, consider adding ½ teaspoon of powdered cumin or chili powder.
Sesame oil - Change the flavor entirely by using toasted sesame oil. Add diced chicken breast and red bell pepper for a red cabbage slaw with Asian-inspired flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Shred the cabbage, toss the slaw, add lime juice, oil and vinegar. That's basically it!

purple cabbage being shredded in a food processor

Step 1: Use a food processor to shred the cabbage. You can also slice the cabbage thinly with a knife or buy pre-shredded cabbage.

shredded purple cabbage and cilantro in a bowl

Step 2: Place the shredded cabbage in a large bowl with the onion and cilantro.

a bowl of red cabbage slaw next to bowls of lime juice, red wine vinegar, salt and oil.

Step 3: Toss the cabbage while drizzling lime juice, red wine vinegar and oil over the top.

Step 4: Season with salt. Toss well and add more lime juice or salt to boost the flavor.

For ingredient measurements, see the recipe card below.

How to Shred Cabbage

The fastest way to shred cabbage is using a food processor. You can also use a sharp knife or a mandoline to slice raw cabbage.

For all methods, first you need to slice the cabbage in half vertically through the core, then slice it again into fourths. If using a food processor, cut the wedges lengthwise again into eights, so the pieces are thin enough to fit in the food processor tube.
Cut out the white, hard core from each wedge using an angled cut.
If using a knife, simply use the knife to thinly slice the cabbage. If using a mandoline, carefully slide the wedges of cabbage down the mandolin for very thin, fine slices.
If using a food processor, attach the slicing blade. Many food processors have a 2-in-1 blade for slicing and grating. The slicing side will give you long thin pieces, which is preferable for coleslaw. The grating side (which looks more like a cheese grater) will give you short, grated pieces.

the shredding and slicing blades on a food processor

What to Serve with Purple Cabbage Slaw

Red cabbage slaw is sometimes called Mexican slaw because the flavors of lime and cilantro are so good with tacos and burritos.

You can also serve cabbage slaw with chicken, salmon, shredded Instant Pot pork, tofu and roasted vegetables.

a serving of red cabbage coleslaw on a plate next to tacos

FAQ About Purple Cabbage

What is purple cabbage?

Purple cabbage, also called red cabbage, gets its color from naturally occurring anthocyanins, which are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their color.

All types of cabbage are part of the cabbage family, also known as brassicaceae or cruciferae. This family includes Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and kale.

What is purple cabbage used for?

Purple cabbage is most often used for roasted dishes, soups, and cold salads and coleslaws.

Can purple and green cabbage be used in the same recipes?

Yes, purple and green cabbage are interchangeable. When making coleslaw, keep in mind that purple cabbage will turn pink if mayonnaise is added.

Can you freeze shredded cabbage?

Yes, you can freeze plain cabbage either whole or shredded. For more information about freezing cabbage, check out this article, "How to freeze cabbage."

I don't recommend freezing slaw with vinegar and other ingredients after it is made.

How long does purple cabbage slaw stay fresh?

Purple cabbage slaw stays fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. It will taste best and have the best and crunchiest texture if eaten within 3 days.

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