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Deli-Style Coleslaw

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 6, 2009

Time

20 minutes, plus 1 hour wilting and 30 minutes chilling

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Deli-Style Coleslaw

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded (see Best Way to Shred Cabbage, related)½ small onion, shredded on box grater2 teaspoons salt ½ cup mayonnaise (see The Real Deal, related)¼ cup sour cream 1 tablespoon white vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar ½ cup finely chopped kosher dill pickles ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon caraway seeds

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, 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, pepper, pickles, mustard, and caraway seeds 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.)
Deli-Style Coleslaw

Deli-Style 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 (see Best Way to Shred Cabbage, related)
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup mayonnaise (see The Real Deal, related)
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
½ cup finely chopped kosher dill pickles
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon caraway seeds

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded (see Best Way to Shred Cabbage, related)
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup mayonnaise (see The Real Deal, related)
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
½ cup finely chopped kosher dill pickles
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon caraway seeds

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 medium head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded (see Best Way to Shred Cabbage, related)
½ small onion, shredded on box grater
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup mayonnaise (see The Real Deal, related)
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
½ cup finely chopped kosher dill pickles
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon caraway seeds

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

It was important to salt the shredded cabbage for our Deli-Style 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. Caraway seeds added a nutty, mild licorice taste, while chopped dill pickles imparted a briny, straight-from-the-deli flavor.

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, 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, pepper, pickles, mustard, and caraway seeds 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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