Creamy Peppery Coleslaw with Cucumbers and Celery

Crisp cabbage, fresh cucumber, and celery tossed in a bold, peppery dressing.

Prep Time: 15 mins | Chill Time: 1 hr | Servings: 6

📝 Ingredients

For the Slaw

• ½ small head cabbage (green or white), shredded

• 1 medium cucumber, diced

• 2 ribs celery with leaves, diced

• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

• 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

For the Peppery Dressing

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tbsp white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for sweeter tang)

• 1–1½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper (star of the show)

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ¼ tsp salt, or to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prep the Vegetables

• Shred cabbage into thin strips.

• Dice cucumber and celery.

• Finely chop cilantro and parsley.

2️⃣ Make the Dressing

• In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, black pepper, onion powder, and salt until smooth.

3️⃣ Combine and Chill

• Toss the cabbage, cucumber, celery, and herbs with the dressing until fully coated.

• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for the flavors to meld.

💡 Variations

• Spicy Kick: Add diced jalapeños or ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper.

• Extra Crunch: Mix in shredded carrots or thinly sliced radishes.

• Herb Swap: Replace cilantro with fresh dill or extra parsley.

• Lighter Version: Use half mayonnaise and half Greek yogurt.

If you’d like, I can also give you a make-ahead BBQ picnic menu that this coleslaw pairs perfectly with. It would include mains, sides, and desserts all in the same easy style as your other recipes. Would you like me to put that together?