Crisp, fresh and bursting with flavor -this 5 Minute Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw is the perfect companion for grilled meats and shrimp or fish tacos! This Paleo, Whole30 and Vegan no-mayo coleslaw recipe uses a simple blend of EVOO and citrus juices to dress crisp cabbage, sweet mandarins and fiery jalapenos. Impress your friends and family at your next taco Tuesday or backyard bbq gathering with this incredibly nutrient-dense and delicious side dish!
There's a time and place for coleslaw laden with mayo. That time is not now and that place is not my kitchen. I'm far from a picky eater, but mayo-based slaws are usually just meh. I've had a few decent ones in the past and believe me when I say I have nothing against mayonnaise, but in my opinion most traditional slaws are essentially mayo and cabbage mush. Hard pass.
On the flip side, there's such a thing as a mayo-free, fresh and flavorful cabbage slaw dressed with a simple vinaigrette, and I'm all about it! This variety of coleslaw is light, refreshing, flavorful and super simple to prepare! Oh, and they're healthy AF. Let's use this Spicy Citrus Cabbage Slaw as an example. The ingredients in this dish combine to create a nutrient-dense power house of a simple side dish. Let's dig a little deeper into the nutritional value of each ingredient, shall we?
Jump to:
- The Ingredients in this Spicy Cilantro Citrus Coleslaw are Incredibly Nutrient-Dense
- Other Ingredients You'll Need for Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw
- Paleo, Whole30 and Vegan Spicy Citrus Cilantro Can Be Prepared in Just 5 Minutes!
- Food for Thought:
- Looking for Recipes to Complete the Meal?
- 📖 Recipe
- 5 Minute Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw
The Ingredients in this Spicy Cilantro Citrus Coleslaw are Incredibly Nutrient-Dense
- Mandarin Oranges: Where do I even begin explaining why you should be including oranges in your diet? Well for one, they're delicious and a great way to appease a sweet tooth without any refined sugar and hardly any calories, but they're also bursting with antioxidants (Vitamin C), bone-health promoting calcium and have 5 to 7% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. Need I say more?
- Jalapenos: These fiery green peppers aren't just ...fiery! They're also good for you! Like most green vegetables, jalapenos are a great source of nutrients like brain-boosting Vitamin C and immunity-boosting Vitamin A.
- Cabbage: Cabbage doesn't always get the credit it deserves. It's low in calories and carbohydrates, yet high in Vitamin C and K. It's also linked to fighting inflammation and improving digestion. It's high in fiber, so it keeps things moving along if you know what I'm saying.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I think by now we all know that we should be consuming EVOO for it's many heart-health boosting factors, but it's important to make sure we're using the good stuff. Read your labels. Avoid the varieties of EVOO that are mixed with cheaper, less healthy oils. Quality is key when it comes to EVOO!
Other Ingredients You'll Need for Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw
- Fresh Lime
- Fresh Cilantro
- Salt & Pepper
Paleo, Whole30 and Vegan Spicy Citrus Cilantro Can Be Prepared in Just 5 Minutes!
This recipe is probably the least challenging recipe you'll ever prepare (like ever), and it can done in just 5 minutes! Here's how:
- Begin by prepping the ingredients for the slaw mixture. Peel 2 of the mandarin oranges and pull apart the fruit into individual sections. Remove the membrane and the seeds from the jalapeno and slice the flesh into thin strips. Rough chop the cilantro. Now simply dump everything you just prepped into a large mixing bowl along with the store-bought coleslaw mix.
- Next, prepare the dressing. Juice and zest the lime and the remaining orange into a small bowl and then whisk in the EVOO and salt and pepper.
- This is probably a no-brainer, but to finish the slaw simply pour the dressing over the slaw mixture and toss gently to combine. Done and done.
Food for Thought:
- Clementines or tangerines can be used in place of the mandarins. They're essentially the same thing with slight differences in sweetness and availability depending on the season.
- If you can handle the heat, go ahead and throw in the membrane and seeds from the jalapeno keeping in mind that not all jalapenos are created equal. The one I used was HOT, so just using the flesh added plenty of heat to this dish. You know your heat tolerance better than I do, so proceed with caution.
- This slaw can be prepped in advance. Simply prepare the slaw mixture and the dressing the day before, and then toss everything together before serving. The leftovers will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
That's a wrap on this deeeeelish 5 Minute Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw! Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy! Or should I say I say easy-peasy-orange-lime-squeezy because this recipe calls for orange and lime juice. Get it? Okay, I'll stop -but no seriously, I can't wait for y'all to try this recipe! If you make it, snap a quick pic and hashtag it #paleoishkristaeats. I love seeing your recreations on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so tag your hearts out! You can find me on social media @paleoishkrista! Look forward to connecting!
PIN NOW! MAKE LATER!
Looking for Recipes to Complete the Meal?
The possibilities are pretty much endless, but this is definitely more of a warm weather dish. This crisp and cool side dish is great served with grilled meats and in seafood tacos. It lasts for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, so it's also a great side dish to make once and dig into all week! I've dropped a few links below for dishes I think would go great with this slaw!
- Air Fryer "Rotisserie" Chicken
- Vegan, Paleo & Whole30 Jackfruit Carnitas
- Cucumber Melon Shrimp Ceviche
Be on the look out for a shrimp tacos recipe I'll be sharing next week that will feature this slaw!
📖 Recipe
5 Minute Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 3 mandarin oranges
- 1 jalapeno
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 2 cups coleslaw mix with shredded cabbage, carrots and purple cabbage
- 1 lime
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Peel 2 of the oranges and peel the fruit apart so the individual sections separate. Remove the membrane and seeds from the jalapeno and slice the flesh into thin strips. Rough chop the cilantro. Add everything to a large bowl with the coleslaw mix.
- Over a small bowl, juice and zest the lime and the remaining mandarin orange. Whisk in the EVOO, salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the coleslaw mix, gently toss and serve.
Notes
- Clementines or tangerines can be used in place of the mandarins. They're essentially the same thing with slight differences in sweetness and availability depending on the season.
- Feel free to add in the jalapeno membrane and seeds if you can handle the extra heat!
- Spicy Citrus Cilantro Coleslaw can be prepped in advance. Simply prepare the slaw mixture and the dressing mixture the day before and then toss together before serving.
- Leftover coleslaw will last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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