Healthy Thanksgiving Cabbage Slaw: BYOV Thanksgiving Edition
- Lee Baxter
- Nov 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe: Quick Thanksgiving Cabbage Slaw is gluten free, refined sugar free and dairy free.
Thanksgiving is the best time of year to gather with friends and family to share delicious foods and give thanks for our many blessings. Usually the food choices are savory, sweet, salty and rich. At traditional Thanksgiving meals, aside from the turkey, most of the selections are starchy sides. I'm always encouraging my patients to follow the plate planner method when structuring their meals by including protein, starch, and non-starchy vegetables. Thanksgiving is no different from other gatherings in that you often need to bring your own non-starchy vegetable if you want to include one in your meal!
My quick and easy Thanksgiving slaw is the perfect non-starchy vegetable addition to any Thanksgiving meal! Every patient that has made this recipe over the last 5 years has loved it. The bright freshness of the cabbage, rice vinegar and fresh herbs helps to balance the richness of the rest of the meal.
Thanksgiving slaw's main ingredient is cabbage. Cabbage is a versatile non-starchy vegetable with many health benefits - anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant rich, vitamin and mineral rich. Cabbage is a great source vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, and manganese. It is also low in calories but high in fiber making it a great food to eat when trying to lose or maintain weight. 1 cup of raw cabbage is 22 calories including 2.2 grams of fiber!
The dressing of this Thanksgiving Slaw can be made vinegar based or be made creamy depending on your preferences. Rice vinegar give this dressing brightness while the fresh parsley provides freshness.
List of Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil (I used a basil infused olive oil)
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons agave nectar, maple syrup or honey
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt (option to add for creamy dressing)
1/3 cup light mayo (option to add for creamy dressing)
For the salad mix:
1 small head green cabbage (about 2 1/2 pounds, or about 10 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix)
3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup fresh italian parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Mix dressing ingredients first. Chop red onion and soak in dressing for 10 minutes prior to mixing dressing with other ingredients. You can assemble the salad ingredients during this time. Shred cabbage or you can buy premade slaw mix. Toss together all salad ingredients. After onions have soaked in dressing for 10 mins you can combine all ingredients together in large mixing bowl. You can serve immediately or chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. Slaw will keep in fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Optional additions:
Feel free to mix in kale to add in more dark green leafy vegetables and add more color to your slaw. Curly kale is best but lacinato kale will work as well. Remove stems from kale and tear into bite size pieces. Massage 1 tsp olive oil with your hands into kale to soften texture. Add to slaw mix.
If you would like a creamy slaw dressing you can add non-fat plain greek yogurt and light mayo in equal amounts until you get your desired taste and texture. Note that this will change the nutrition facts of this recipe.
Nutrition Facts:
Yield: ~15 servings, 3/4 cup each
Calories: 121
Fat: 6.7g
Carbs: 14.6g
Fiber: 2.7g
Sugar: 10.6g
Protein: 2.4g
Sodium: 30.1mg
Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
This Thanksgiving, let your table showcase not only the classic favorites but also a healthy and exciting addition—the Thanksgiving Cabbage Salad. With its vibrant colors, diverse textures, and healthful ingredients, this salad is a celebration of a healthy holiday season. Impress your friends and family with a dish that not only tastes fantastic but also contributes to their well-being. Here's to a Thanksgiving filled with joy, gratitude, and, of course, a plate full of nutritious deliciousness!
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