5 Minute Recipes/ Asian Recipes/ Japanese/ Recipes/ Salad/ Side Dish/ Super Simple

Quick Coleslaw with Japanese Style Creamy Salad Dressing

15/02/2024

Your new go-to recipe when you need an awesome salad on the table – FAST! Our quick coleslaw is tossed together with a bright and creamy Japanese style salad dressing you’ll be using again and again.

A white bowl filled with Japanese style coleslaw with silver salad servers.

Why We Love This

Take your salads to a whole new level with our amazing Japanese style creamy salad dressing! 

Infused with Kewpie mayo and miso paste, the creamy flavour goes amazingly well with coleslaw like in today’s salad below, or with your own favourite mix of veggies. 

It’s quick to make and perfect to drizzle over a simple side salad, but flavourful enough to transform that salad into a quick and satisfying meal all on its own. 

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Serve it up at your next BBQ or family gathering!

Related: Japanese Wafu Dressing / Aussie Style Greek Salad / Eileen’s Salad

A wide bowl filled with coleslaw and two salad servers.

What is Japanese Coleslaw?

Today’s creamy Japanese style salad dressing is an example of yoshoku, or Western influences on Japanese cuisine. The flavours combined with those classic coleslaw vegetables are such a good mix of flavours.

Coleslaw was something we didn’t expect to be so popular in Japan, but it’s most likely become more well known since the introduction of KFC back in the 70’s. 

At home in Aus, this is an all-time family favourite salad that we’ve jumped at the chance to infuse a little extra Japanese flavour through seasonings like white miso paste and rice wine vinegar.

What You’ll Need

  • Veggies – You can’t go wrong with the traditional coleslaw veggies like green / red cabbage and carrot, but we also love adding corn for extra sweetness and crunch. Chop your own or buy a pre-mixed bag of coleslaw veggies from the supermarket to save time. 
  • Kewpie mayonnaise – Our fave secret ingredient for extra tasty salad dressing! So much more flavour than other types of mayo (and very easy to make at home too – check out our Kewpie mayo recipe). Sub regular mayo if you prefer.
  • White Miso Paste – A staple Japanese seasoning, this brings extra umaminess and depth to the coleslaw. White miso paste is sweeter and lighter in flavour than red miso. 
  • Rice Wine Vinegar – For that classic coleslaw tang with a twist. Sub with white vinegar or any of your favourite styles of vinegar if you need.
  • Other Ingredients – You’ll also need sugar, tahini, sesame oil and white sesame seeds for the dressing, and optional ham, katsuobushi or spring onion / green onion to garnish.

Wandercook’s Tips

  • Double Batch – Perfect for feeding a crowd
  • Intensity – Start with a small amount of salad dressing, then add more until you’re happy with the flavour intensity and creamy coverage of your salad ingredients.
  • Dressing Quantity – Suitable for approx 500 g / 1 lb of salad.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating

This salad dressing is best used fresh, but will last around 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. We don’t recommend freezing either the dressing or the salad once mixed through.

FAQs

What else can I use this salad dressing with?

Use it as a dip instead of a dressing, paired with veggie sticks, your fav crackers, or even popcorn chicken! It’s also great for a simple side salad of roughly chopped lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

What goes great with coleslaw?

It’s such a versatile side salad – the creamy flavour works with just about anything!

As a BBQ side we love to pair it with:
Cevapi sausages and steak
Teriyaki chicken
Aussie rissoles
Potato bake

It’s also great alongside mains like:
Italian roast chicken
Rolled lamb roast
Beer battered fish or calamari
As a salad base for prawn cocktails

Serving Ideas & Variations

  • Extra Ingredients – Add any of your favourite salad inclusions like julienne sliced cucumber, capsicum / bell pepper, or zucchini. Try it with thinly sliced apples, celery and crunchy walnuts. 
  • Add Ham – A popular addition to coleslaw served in Japan! Serve the salad with thinly sliced ham, or add both to a sandwich. 
  • Boiled Eggs – Make this salad go even further with 1-2 roughly chopped boiled eggs, similar to our Japanese potato salad.
A rainbow of vegetables grated into a coleslaw in a white bowl.

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★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and a star rating below!

A bowl filled with colourful coleslaw topped with green onions.

Quick Coleslaw with Japanese Style Creamy Salad Dressing

Your new go-to recipe when you need an awesome salad on the table – FAST! Our quick coleslaw is tossed together with a bright and creamy Japanese style salad dressing you’ll be using again and again.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Japanese
Servings: 4 side serves
Calories: 182kcal
Author: Wandercooks
Cost: $8

Ingredients

For the sauce

Optional:

For the Coleslaw

  • 2 cups cabbage grated
  • 1 carrot grated
  • 1 cup red cabbage grated
  • cup corn

Optional:

Instructions

For the sauce

  • Add the 4 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise, 1 tsp white miso paste, 1 tbsp water,1 tsp rice wine vinegar,1 tsp white sesame seeds, 1 tsp sugar, ½ tsp tahini, ½ tsp sesame oil and optional 1 tsp bonito flakes / katsuobushi to a small bowl, and use a whisk to combine until smooth.

For the coleslaw

  • Place the 2 cups cabbage, 1 carrot, 1 cup red cabbage, ⅓ cup corn and optional 50 g ham in a large salad bowl.
  • Drizzle over the sauce and toss until everything is covered well. Optional: Garnish with spring onion / green onion.
  • Serve immediately or store in the fridge in a sealed container until ready to use.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Quick Coleslaw with Japanese Style Creamy Salad Dressing
Amount per Serving
Calories
182
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
14
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
320
mg
14
%
Potassium
 
248
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
10
g
3
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
2875
IU
58
%
Vitamin C
 
27
mg
33
%
Calcium
 
38
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Quick Coleslaw with Japanese Style Creamy Salad Dressing
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