Asian Coleslaw with Sesame-Ginger Dressing

asian slaw with cilantro on a white plate.

Asian Coleslaw with Sesame-Ginger Dressing

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: asian coleslaw, asian slaw

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Calories: 142kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

The next time you need a salad recipe to impress, try this Asian Coleslaw. Unlike classic coleslaw recipes, this one uses a sesame-ginger dressing instead of mayo. It has restaurant-quality flavor with simple pantry ingredients, so you can stir it together in just minutes. Be sure to give it time to marinate-- the flavor will only get better with time!

Print Recipe Add to Collection

Ingredients

3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (see notes)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
3 tablespoons honey
1 clove garlic , minced
1 inch fresh ginger , minced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional; for spice)
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 pounds cabbage (about 1 head)
2 carrots , peeled and shredded
3 green onions , chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, tamari, honey, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir well until the honey dissolves. Note: Use a microplane to finely mince the garlic and ginger directly into the bowl.
Add the shredded cabbage, carrots, chopped green onion, and cilantro to the bowl of dressing and toss well. Let the salad marinate for at least 15 minutes for the best flavor. (It's normal for excess liquid to develop at the bottom of the bowl.) Then toss again and serve with sesame seeds as garnish, if desired.
Leftover dressed salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir well again before serving to ensure the dressing is evenly distributed.

Notes

Nutrition information is for roughly one heaping cup of salad, assuming you get 6 heaping cups total from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, so it's just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Vinegar Note: If you don't have rice vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar will work just as well.

Make it Creamy: Add a 1/4 cup of almond butter or peanut butter to the dressing for a creamier texture.

Need a vegan dressing? Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar.

Update Note: This recipe was updated in January 2026 with updated photos.

Nutrition