But when I made my Vegan No-Mayo Coleslaw for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the healthy cole slaw craze. If you are like me, new to the concept of making coleslaw with yogurt instead of mayo, read on. Because this Greek coleslaw recipe is really good. It also is healthy, light, low calorie and delicious. If you know me well, you know I am a big fan of yogurt. It is an ingredient that comes to the rescue whenever I am in need of mayo-free recipes such as Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad, Kale and Apple Slaw or Healthy Apple Salad. And I always love to make a quick 5-Minute Greek Yogurt Dressing when I am short on time. In all honesty, the creamy dressing makes this flavorful and light coleslaw recipe so good. The Greek yogurt offers a wonderful alternative to an otherwise mayo-laden slaw. A few thinly sliced fresh veggies and you have a new and improved yogurt, or yoghurt, slaw in no time.
Ingredients
For the coleslaw veggie base, you will need green and purple cabbage (aka red cabbage), carrots, green onions and Italian parsley. As far as the Greek yogurt coleslaw sauce goes, gather together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, kosher salt and black pepper.
A few helpful tips on ingredients:
Cabbage: I like to use a combination of purple (red) and white (green) cabbage for flavor and color but you can also whichever kind you have on hand.Greek Yogurt: Full-fat, low-fat or zero-fat Greek yogurt all work here. Greek yogurt is thicker than regular yogurt, but the remaining ingredients in the dressing thin it out to the right consistency. As always, make sure it is plain and unsweetened.Celery Seed: I highly recommend seeking out celery seed if you do not already have it on hand. This is that classic coleslaw flavor that really makes this recipe shine.
How to make this recipe?
The steps for this healthy coleslaw recipe are so easy, all it takes is two bowls (one large, one small) and 15 minutes. Simply:
Variations Greek Yogurt Slaw
Low Fat Coleslaw Dressing (using Skyr Yogurt):
Skyr yogurt is a low-fat Icelandic yogurt that is strained for a longer period of time to reach the same thickness and consistency as Greek yogurt. In other words – super, super creamy! If you are a Greek yogurt fan but want to use a low-fat product that is equivalent in flavor and quality, be sure to try making this healthy coleslaw sauce with Skyr yogurt. And if you have some extra, be sure to try my Yogurt Fruit Dip.
Tzatziki Coleslaw:
You can also use my Tzatziki recipe and use it as your dressing for coleslaw with yogurt. This is especially a great option if you like garlicky flavors.
Pre-packaged Coleslaw Mix:
Short on time? Purchase one 10-12 ounce bag coleslaw mix of cabbage and carrots – no slicing or grating required.
Maple Syrup:
Omit the honey and use pure maple syrup. I like Grade A Golden for it’s lighter flavor, but Amber or even Dark Amber will work just as well.
Uses for coleslaw yoghurt dressing recipe
I like to think of this recipe as a 2-for-1 since the dressing is just as delicious on its own. Feel free to make the greek yoghurt dressing and use it as a sauce, dip or spread (very similar to how you would use Tzatziki or Tahini Yogurt Sauce). Serve it as:
Sauce for grilled vegetables and meatsDip for crudite or fresh cut vegetablesSpread on sandwiches or your morning toast or bagel
Is coleslaw good for you?
When I first started making coleslaw at home, it was mostly because I wanted a homemade condiment I could eat on top of hot dogs and burgers. Just as it always goes with developing recipes, I learned that coleslaw is actually quite good for you when made at home. The superfood powerhouse is cabbage. Cabbage is packed with Vitamins A, B6, C and K, along with a good amount of iron and fiber. The Greek yogurt takes the benefits of coleslaw even farther since it contains ample amounts of calcium and far more protein than any mayo-laden coleslaw could ever provide.
Make-ahead and serving instructions
Make the coleslaw with yogurt at least 30 minutes prior to serving and keep it covered in the fridge. Once chilled, the coleslaw goes best with sandwiches, grilled meats and crisp, green veggies. I always make this coleslaw with yogurt the morning or afternoon I am going to serve. The veggies and greek yogurt dressing will hold it’s integrity for at least 3 hours and up to 2 days. After the 2 day mark, the vegetables begin to wilt due to the amount of acid in the dressing. Plus, if you allow yogurt to sit with lemon juice for a long period of time, the flavors start to become bitter.
Other salad recipes perfect for the picnic/grill season:
Black Bean Corn SaladMexican Corn SaladSouthwest Quinoa SaladCreamy Cucumber SaladNeed more inspiration? Check out all our salad recipes
