Healthy Mexican Slaw (No Mayo!)

This Mexican-inspired cabbage slaw recipe is a healthy side dish to add to your repertoire. It’s made with shredded green and purple cabbage, thinly sliced carrots and bell pepper, chopped cilantro and pepitas, and topped with a creamy dairy-free avocado dressing. This simple and fresh cabbage slaw recipe uses no mayo and takes just 20 minutes to make!

Cabbage is having a moment at this point in time, I am here to take full advantage of that. As a nutritionist, cabbage is one of my staple recipes I keep on hand at all times! It’s loaded with fiber and antioxidants, and has a delicious crunch. Whether it be my slaw with tahini dressing, or my Asian Slaw, I especially love a slaw that is made no mayo.

Lately, whenever I wrack my brain to make a simple nutritious vegetable side dish recipe, this one has been at the top of my list! A huge crowd pleaser as well as it makes a huge bowl. For all of my carb-conscious friends, it’s also a keto diet recipe that is packed with flavor!

Shredded veggies like bell pepper, slaw mix, red onion, and fresh cilantro are the perfect base for an amazingly creamy Avocado Cilantro Dressing. The added crunch of pumpkin seeds is everything I want in a salad. I love to make this recipe on the weekends and enjoy the leftovers for lunch throughout the week. Best part is that it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish.

How to make Mexican Slaw:

We start by making my Avocado Cilantro Dressing. This is a blended up concoction of avocado, cilantro, cumin, avocado oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sea salt, and some water.

Now gather up these simple ingredients:

• 1 package shredded cabbage/slaw mix (I used Trader Joe’s)
• red bell pepper, sliced
• diced red onion
• fresh cilantro
• pumpkin seeds (Pepitas)
• Creamy Avocado Dressing

Toss the dressing together with the salad ingredients and serve.

Adaptations/Variations:

• Bell Pepper: can easily be taken out, feel free to swap in a different type of pepper, or add in something like corn or tomatoes.
• Jalapeños: would be delicious in the dressing or in the slaw! Dice up one small jalapeño (without seeds)
• Tomatoes: I chopped tomatoes another time I made this, and loved this addition.
• Black Beans: Feel free to add in black beans for a protein source or boost of fiber.

This Mexican Slaw pairs perfectly with these main dishes!

• Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Chicken Tinga
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos
• Steak Fajitas

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Healthy Mexican Slaw Recipe (No Mayo!)

This Mexican-inspired cabbage slaw recipe is a healthy side dish to add to your repertoire. It’s made with shredded green and purple cabbage, thinly sliced carrots and bell pepper, chopped cilantro and pepitas, and topped with a creamy dairy-free avocado dressing. This simple and fresh cabbage slaw recipe uses no mayo and takes just 20 minutes to make!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 305 kcal

Author Amy Rains

4.88 from 8 votes

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Ingredients

For the dressing:

• 1 avocado
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup pepitas
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup avocado oil or olive oil

For the Mexican Slaw:

• 6 cups Shredded green and purple cabbage*
• 1 large red bell pepper sliced thinly
• 1/2 medium sized red onion diced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup pepitas
• sea salt to taste

Instructions

1. Begin by making the dressing: place the avocado, garlic, vinegar, pepitas, cumin, lime juice, water, salt, and cilantro into a high powered blender or food processor. Begin to blend, and while the motor is running, slowly pour in the oil. If the dressing feels too thick, add additional water by the tablespoon.

2. Toss the salad ingredients: cabbage, red pepper, onion, cilantro, and pepitas into a large bowl. Start with one cup of the dressing, and toss in until the salad is coated. If you need more dressing, add by the tablespoon. Continue to stir and toss until well combined.

3. Sprinkle a little sea salt to taste and serve.

Recipe Notes

*I used a prepackaged slaw from Trader Joe’s that included green cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots. You can use prepackaged slaw, or chop half a head of green cabbage and purple cabbage in small shreds.

Calories 305kcal

Fat 27g

Saturated fat 4g

Sodium 419mg

Potassium 532mg

Carbohydrates 14g

Fiber 5g

Sugar 5g

Protein 5g

Vitamin A 2003%

Vitamin C 93%

Calcium 54%

Iron 2%