Southern-Style Coleslaw will be a family favorite among your friends and guest at family BBQs as well as Summer Potlucks. You are combining crunchy red and green cabbage, sweet pickle relish, celery seeds, grated carrots, and crisp celery with pure spices and a mayo base for the perfect Southern-style side dish to complement your favorite summer dishes.
Our beloved modern coleslaws have been traced back to the ancient Romans, who served a dish of cabbage, vinegar, eggs, and various spices. The Dutch immigrants in New York state grew cabbage around the Hudson River that they were known for using in a shredded cabbage salad named Koosla.
The vinegar-based varieties of coleslaw seem to have a long history in the USA. A recipe in The Sensible Cook: Dutch Foodways in the Old and New World, made by the author’s Dutch landlady in 1770, mixes thin strips of cabbage with melted butter, vinegar, and oil.
Below you will find my simple recipe for a delicious tangy yet sweet tasting Southern Style Coleslaw. The ingredients are easy to find and extremely budget-friendly for those trying to keep a budget in mind when preparing food for a crowd.
Ingredients needed to make Southern-Style Coleslaw
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1/2 of a cup of mayo
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1/4 of a cup of sweet pickle juice
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Two tablespoons of sweet pickle relish
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1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
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Two teaspoons of sugar, optional
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One teaspoon kosher salt
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freshly ground pepper, to own taste
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Three cups of green cabbage very thinly sliced
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One cup of red cabbage very thinly sliced
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Two medium carrots peeled; grated
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One stalk of celery minced
Southern Style Coleslaw
Ingredients
- ½ cup Real Mayo
- ¼ cup Sweet pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons Sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons Sugar optional
- ½ teaspoon Celery seed
- 1 teaspoon Kosher alt
- 3 cups Green cabbage very thinly sliced
- 1 cup Red cabbage thinly sliced
- 2 medium Carrots peeled and grated
- 1 stalk Celery minced
Instructions
- Whisk mayonnaise, sweet pickle juice, pickle relish, celery seeds, sugar, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and pepper in a large bowl to combine.
- Thinly slice the red and green cabbage, to the desired size.
- Grate the carrots and then dice the celery.
- Add green and red cabbage, carrots, and celery to the dressing and toss to coat evenly.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve
- Coleslaw can be made 8 hours ahead.
Notes
Nutrition
Suggested recipes:
- Memphis-Style Coleslaw hits the most important notes when it comes to taste and texture slightly tart, sweet, creamy, oh so crunchy—there’s so much to love when it comes to Memphis-Style Coleslaw. Made with pure Southern-Style love; combining crunchy cabbage, green pepper, crisp carrots, and red onion, with a delightfully sweet creamy homemade sauce
- Apple-Cabbage Coleslaw is one of those deliciously refreshing packed with flavor side dishes that will compliment all of your grilled menu items, such as chicken, fish, or even pork—made with crisp green cabbage, purple cabbage, crunchy carrots, green apples, delicious red apples, sweet red bell peppers, celery, onion, dried cranberries, and creamy homemade dressing to bring it all together.
- Creamy Crab Salad is one of the most delicious yet easiest semi-homemade salads you’ll ever have the pleasure of making. For years this creamy crab salad has been my secret go-to recipe for impromptu gatherings with friends and family members at reunions, work potlucks, and even church gatherings.
© Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch, 2022-2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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This was a great tasting recipe that took me back memory lane of when I lived in Memphis. Saving this one for sure.
Oh I love that you add relish! I am totally going to try this! Can’t wait! Thanks for the inspiration!
I don’t think I’ve ever had Southern style coleslaw before, but now I really want to try it! Love that pickle juice! And all the pretty colors 🙂
I love the ideas of using pickle relish! Such a great dish for summertime 🙂
Great recipe. I don’t usually use so many ingredients in my cole slaw, but i made an exception for this recipe. So glad I did. It was delish!
You cannot beat a good slaw. Especially in a slider (:
How long will this safely store in my refrigerator?
Good morning, Brandy, You are safe for about 4 days. I’m not big on keeping anything past that that contains mayo. Thanks for asking. Enjoy.
Glad I found this recipe I like a more tangy coleslaw. Saved to make for the weekend.
Hey there, Ben, glad to hear you’ll be making it!!! Let me know how it goes over.
I made this the other day and my family loved it. Thanks for the history too
Glad they liked it, Ursula! Thanks for sharing!