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Basic Creamy Coleslaw

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 9, 2012

Time

20 minutes, plus 1 hour wilting and 30 minutes chilling

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Basic Creamy Coleslaw

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded1 carrot, peeled and shredded on box grater½ small onion, shredded on box grater2 teaspoons table salt ½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sour cream 1 tablespoon white vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar ¼ teaspoon pepper

Before You Begin

After step 1, the salted, rinsed, and dried cabbage mixture can be refrigerated in a zipper-lock bag for 24 hours.

Instructions

  1. SALT CABBAGE Toss cabbage, carrot, onion, and salt in colander set over bowl. Let stand until wilted, about 1 hour. Rinse cabbage mixture under cold water, drain, and dry well with kitchen towel.
  2. DRESS SLAW Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and pepper in large bowl. Stir in cabbage mixture and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes. Serve. (Coleslaw can be refrigerated in airtight container for 2 days.)
Basic Creamy Coleslaw

Basic Creamy Coleslaw

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes, plus 1 hour wilting and 30 minutes chilling

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded
1 carrot, peeled and shredded on box grater
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons table salt
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded
1 carrot, peeled and shredded on box grater
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons table salt
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded
1 carrot, peeled and shredded on box grater
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons table salt
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

It was important to salt the shredded cabbage for our Basic Creamy Coleslaw to remove excess water before dressing it. Allowing the salted cabbage to sit for at least one hour drained off most of the liquid.

For the dressing, cutting the mayonnaise with a bit of sour cream improved the texture and added richness and a pleasant tang. We balanced the plain white vinegar with a small amount of sugar.

Before You Begin

After step 1, the salted, rinsed, and dried cabbage mixture can be refrigerated in a zipper-lock bag for 24 hours.

Instructions

  1. SALT CABBAGE Toss cabbage, carrot, onion, and salt in colander set over bowl. Let stand until wilted, about 1 hour. Rinse cabbage mixture under cold water, drain, and dry well with kitchen towel.
  2. DRESS SLAW Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and pepper in large bowl. Stir in cabbage mixture and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes. Serve. (Coleslaw can be refrigerated in airtight container for 2 days.)

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