This easy vinegar coleslaw recipe is a refreshing summer side dish that pairs well with veggie burgers, sloppy joes, skewers, and more!

Finding a good easy coleslaw recipe is deceptively difficult. Or maybe we’re just slaw-challenged. For whatever reason, of the many we’ve tried over the years, we’ve yet to find one we truly liked. They’ve been too oily, too cabbage-y, you name it. Finally, we’ve found one we enjoy, this easy coleslaw recipe with vinegar inspired by the “Fresh” cookbook by Jennifer Houston and Ruth Tal. We’ve enjoyed the book’s “fresh” take on meatless eating, based on recipes from the restaurants with the same name (located in Toronto, unfortunately for us!).

We adapted this easy vinegar coleslaw recipe from their healthy coleslaw recipe, and found it to be flavorful, delicious, and yes, fresh! It was a great side to pair with some Two-Bean Sloppy Joes. And, we were able to use some green cabbage from our local farmer’s market. Keep reading for the easy vinegar coleslaw recipe!

All about vinegar coleslaw!

The main ingredients for this easy coleslaw recipe with vinegar are red onion, red and green cabbage, and celery. Although this is a simple recipe, the mix of these budget-friendly vegetables make for a healthy coleslaw recipe that won’t weigh you down.

Unlike many slaw recipes, this vinegar based coleslaw tastes best right away and doesn’t need any time in the fridge to let the flavors combine. The tangy vinaigrette easily soaks into the cabbage, making this a great dish to whip up at the last minute. It’s also alternative to the mayo-based creamy coleslaw dressing, for potlucks where food sits out on a table for a few hours in the sun.

Want a different variation? Try our Red Cabbage Slaw, Creamy Coleslaw, or Broccoli Slaw instead!

Serving this vinegar coleslaw

Serve your homemade vinegar coleslaw with veggie burgers, skewers, and any other summer dishes you enjoy. This recipe serves four to six people and can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd. If you don’t plan on serving this slaw right away, we recommend prepping the vegetables and dressing ahead of time and storing them separately. Then, when you’re ready to serve simply mix everything together and dig in!

Video: How to cut cabbage

The only challenging part about making a coleslaw recipe with vinegar is how to cut the cabbage! Alex and I have recently learned a trick to cutting cabbage that makes it much easier to cut. We used to just cut it in half and then hack at it until we got some uneven “shreds.” After we learned this little trick to how to cut cabbage, making a coleslaw or cabbage salad has been a breeze! See the video below of me showing how to cut cabbage in our home kitchen.

And that’s it!

Ok, are you convinced to try our vinegar coleslaw recipe? Want to try your hand at our method for how to cut cabbage? Let us know if you try it, and what you think in the comments below!

This vinegar coleslaw recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and plant-based.