Summer is all about cookouts, and with it being late summer, these gatherings are still in full force. I’m not complaining one bit – the next few weekends for us are filled with plenty of get-togethers with friends and family. Obviously, it’s good to have several ‘entertaining’ dishes up your sleeve for these occasions.
My husband is a big fan of coleslaw. With me, I could take it or leave it – at least, the stuff that you see pre-made at the deli and/or sold in bulk. I had never tried my hand at homemade coleslaw up until a week or two ago. Now that I have, it might be safe to say that I’ve turned a corner of sorts.
Don’t let the name fool you – this coleslaw does have a jalapeno pepper in it, but it isn’t overpowering at all. It gives just a bit of a bite.
Jalapeño Coleslaw
adapted from Serious Eats
For the Dressing:
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 3 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped – I used the stuff that they sell in the tube. Love it.
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
For the Slaw:
- 1 large head of green cabbage
- 1-2 carrots; peeled and grated
- 1 large jalapeno – stemmed, seeded and diced (unless you want it super hot)
- Make the dressing: whisk together all dressing ingredients. Set aside (or in the refrigerator).
- Make the slaw: Using a mandolin, shred the cabbage; if you don’t have one, then finely chop it by hand.
- Combine the cabbage, carrot and jalapeno in a large bowl. If serving right away, pour dressing over vegetables and toss to coat. Add salt, pepper and/or sugar and season to taste. If serving later, refrigerate the slaw until ready to serve (or transport in a cooler). Mix everything together when it’s time to eat.
I know, I know. Functionality over plating…
I really enjoyed this dish. We brought it over to a friend’s house for a cookout where they were serving pulled pork sandwiches. It paired really well together. The cumin, lime juice and pepper give this coleslaw a Southwestern flair to it; you could easily serve this with chicken or with fish tacos, too. It tastes wonderfully fresh and beats the store-bought slaw, hands down. Then again, homemade dishes beat store-bought ones anyways, right?
They say Labor Day is the end of summer, but don’t let it – keep on enjoying this great weather!
The Spicy Simmer 