This easy balsamic beet slaw is a homemade no-mayo coleslaw made with beetroot and a balsamic dressing.
Perfect when you want a coleslaw without a creamy dressing and more of a zing!
It's packed with veg too, including white and red cabbage, red onion and carrot, so combined with the tangy balsamic vinegar salad dressing it's great for your gut microbiome.
And it tastes great too!
At-a-Glance - Easy Balsamic Beet Slaw
⏲️ Ready in: 10 minutes
👪 Serves: 6
🍽 Calories: 120 kcals
🧾 Main ingredients: cabbage, red onion, carrots, beetroot, balsamic vinegar, mustard
👩🏻🍳 Suitable for: Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian & gluten-free
A good basic recipe to keep and return to. Add it to salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, baked potatoes and hot dogs.
Summarise & save this recipe:
⭐ Why You'll Love this Slaw
If you hate creamy slaw or just want something a bit different, try this balsamic vinegar slaw.
- Ready in 10 minutes
- No mayonnaise
- Naturally vegan and gluten-free
- Great for quick meal prep
- It keeps well in the fridge for a few days
- Packed with colourful vegetables
- Perfect for lunchboxes, picnics and BBQs
💭 What does Beet Slaw Taste Like?
Beet slaw is sweet, earthy, crunchy and tangy.
The beetroot adds natural an earthy background flavour while the balsamic vinegar gives a rich, slightly sticky sweet sharpness.
Unlike creamy coleslaw, it tastes lighter and fresher.
👩🏻🍳 Raw Beetroot Vs Cooked Beetroot
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
| Raw beetroot | Crunchier, earthier |
| Cooked beetroot | Sweeter, softer |
| Vacuum-packed beetroot | Quickest option |
| Home-roasted beetroot | Deepest flavour |
🍴 10 Ways to Use Coleslaw
A bowl of coleslaw is a handy thing to have in the fridge. It perks up so many dishes.
Here are 10 ideas of when to use coleslaw:
- In a filled sandwich, roll or wrap with salad and cheese.
- On a baked potato with grated vegan cheddar.
- Added to a salad for zing.
- Added to a buddha bowl.
- On a bean burger in a burger bun with salad.
- Piled high on a baked potato with grated vegan cheddar.
- Piled high on a hot dog.
- Served with crispy vegetable spring rolls.
- As a topping on spicy tofu tacos.
- Served with stacked-high nachos with all the toppings.
- With a toastie and salad.
If you are in the mood for salads right now, also try this Vegan Grinder Salad and this gorgeous Vegan Dill Potato Salad.
📋 What you need
Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this tangy beetroot coleslaw.
- Cabbage - a mixture of red and white for colour and a good mix of nutrients
- Carrot - adds crunch and colour
- Red onion - rather than white for its softer, sweeter flavour
- Beets - I use the vacuum-packed ready-cooked beetroot for this, but you could cook them yourself, then add them
- Mustard - American yellow mustard or dijon mustard would work well in this recipe
- Balsamic vinegar - it has to be balsamic vinegar for the dish, for its sticky, rich sweetness; no other vinegar will do
** To see a full list of ingredients and quantities, visit the recipe card.
To change it up, make this basic slaw but toss it with Vegan Greek Salad Dressing or Thousand Island Dressing instead of the balsamic Dressing.
If you love the balsamic dressing, you may also like these Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes next.
🌡️ Storing Beetroot Slaw
How long does beet slaw last?
This no-mayo slaw will last for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can you freeze this slaw?
Freezing slaw isn't recommended because the vegetables lose their crunch when frozen and then thawed.
Jac's Top Tip
💭 Take the coleslaw out of the fridge
Make sure you take the coleslaw out of the fridge a few minutes before you serve it, as the chill from the fridge can mute the flavours.
💭 Balsamic Coleslaw FAQs
Yes, and the flavour will improve as it sits in the fridge and the dressing is absorbed.
It's a matter of personal taste, but beet slaw includes a better variety of veg than most creamy slaws and is often lower in calories.
Yes, raw beetroot gives a good crunch, but it stains your hands while you grate it, so wear gloves if possible.
Salt naturally draws the juices from beetroot and onion. You can drain some of the liquid or just give the slaw a good mix to re-coat it.
Yes, you can skip the mustard, but it does help emulsify the dressing and add flavour. The dressing will be thinner.
More Beetroot Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Easy Balsamic Beet Slaw
Ingredients
- ½ small white cabbage shredded
- ¼ small red cabbage shredded
- 1 large carrot grated
- ½ red onion halved and finely sliced
- 4 cooked beets vacuum packed or steamed, grated
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons wholegrain mustard
- pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prepare all your vegetables and mix together in a large bowl.
- Whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small glass or bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the coleslaw and mix well.
- Taste to check the seasoning.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- When I want to make this spicier, I add thinly sliced jalapenos or chilli flakes.
- Sometimes I just use one type of cabbage, both red or white cabbage works, or a mixture of both.
- Keep the slaw in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
Jill says
I hate mayo slaw, so this is perfect
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes it definitely makes a good alternative to a creamy coleslaw.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh definitely try it without the msyo. It's a completely different experienc.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes it is definitely all those things. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Thanks and yes the perfect summer side. Great at BBQs or picnics.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Thanks Annissa, it is really q keeper
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes it would be great with tofu. I am thinking on pitta bread with this coleslaw and salad.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I think you'll like this one better. Give it a go and let me know.
Anonymous says
I am one of those people that hate mayonnaise in colselaw. I just can't stand it. I will give this a try.
Pris says
Wow!! I've always loved the idea of coleslaw, and the crunch on it, but I mostly just tried a bite and went ughhh, mayo... I've never thought it could be done without it! And the beetroot surely will make it even better! Thank you so much for this idea!
Life and Food by Mimi says
Love this salad. it's flavorful. Easy to make and incredibly delicious!
Unknown says
This is super yummy ! A perfect light summer side dish
Annissa says
What a lovely melange of flavors! This recipe takes coleslaw to a new level.Yum!
Plant Based Folk says
I love colslaw and this recipe is perfect! I can't wait to have it with some tofu 🙂