Forget plain, soggy cabbage coleslaw – this kale apple slaw is filled with a variety of colors and flavors! Kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, Napa cabbage, carrots, apples, Medjool dates, and sunflower seeds mingle with a creamy yogurt-tahini dressing. This antioxidant-packed healthy coleslaw is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C and has no sugar added. If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious alternative to typical boring coleslaw, look no further!
A few weeks ago, I was planning a celebratory meal and decided to create a healthier broccoli slaw to accompany the ribs and corn. It didn’t end up working out quite as planned because the broccoli I ordered was replaced with Mann’s Power Blend.
There was a lot more than broccoli in the bag! Mann’s Power Blend contains all of the following shredded veggies:
- Brussels sprouts
- Napa cabbage
- Kohlrabi
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Kale
It’s unlikely I would purchase and prepare small amounts of all of these vegetables for a single dish. Honestly, it’s just too much trouble.
I liked that you get all of these superfoods in a single bag with Mann’s Power Blend. You get a more diverse array of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals from eating a wider variety of veggies versus eating just one type.
With this product, all of the work is done for you. All you have to do is dump it in a bowl and stir in the rest of the slaw ingredients. I love it!
Over the course of this pandemic, I’ve learned to become a lot more flexible in my cooking. When I can’t get one thing, I simply use something else. Fortunately, I think that the substitution in this case worked out exceptionally well.
This IS a kale apple slaw… with a lot of other stuff!
As discussed above, my plans for making a broccoli slaw had been foiled. Instead, it looked like I’d be making a broccoli, carrot, kale, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, Napa cabbage slaw.
Plus, I was throwing a bunch of other goodies into the mix. Medjool dates, toasted sunflower seeds, apples, red onions, and more are joining the party:
Obviously, I could not name the dish after all of those foods. Haha
Looking at my photos of the finished coleslaw, I noticed a lot of ruffly green kale leaves. So, I decided we’d call this a kale slaw. Taste-wise, the apples and dates provide a lot of sweetness, so I went with the name “kale apple slaw.”
But seriously, you are getting so much more than fresh kale and crisp apples here. There is also something present in typical coleslaw that you are NOT getting, and that is added sugar. With the sweet dates and apples, you shouldn’t miss it.
That’s not the only difference between this kale slaw with apples and your typical coleslaw recipe, however. Most slaw recipes use gobs and gobs of mayo. I decided to keep some of the mayonnaise for richness, but I also mixed in some plain yogurt and tahini.
Both the tahini and yogurt help to extend the creaminess of the mayo without added oils. Additionally, plain yogurt and tahini are both a bit tangy. They add that unexpected pop of flavor to this kale slaw.
I first got the idea of adding tahini to coleslaw recipes in this broccoli slaw salad post on Simply Taralynn. If you have some tahini leftover from making hummus, why not try it in a slaw recipe? It’s a great way to elevate slaw, an often overlooked side dish, to the star of the show!
How to serve kale apple coleslaw
As I talked about at the top of the article, I planned to serve this apple kale slaw as part of a celebration meal. Its partners were some buttery corn on the cob and these AMAZING baked pork ribs with guajillo sauce.
Oh, those fantastic ribs. I pretty much dream about them. This plate is a bit rich for everyday food but perfect for a Labor Day cookout or Fourth of July celebration.
OK, so now a question. Assuming that you have no dietary restrictions, what is the first item on the plate you’d dig into?
Let’s keep things real here. It’s probably not going to be the slaw, right? My husband and I went right for the ribs and corn.
My son, however, made a beeline for the kale apple slaw! He finished the slaw before digging into the other foods. We all liked the kale slaw, but he seemed to really be into it.
I mean, if some are choosing this slaw over SUPER AWESOME ribs, I’m thinking I have a winning recipe here. If we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic, I’d say this slaw salad would make a great potluck dish. It would appeal to people who want healthier options and also to those who just want to eat delicious food.
Speaking of which, are YOU ready to eat some yummy food? If so, let’s get to this kale apple slaw recipe, shall we?
And now for the disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to this post. Let's get cooking!
Kale Apple Slaw with Brussels Sprouts, Tahini, and Dates
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Mann's Power Blend superfood mix 284 grams (or use a bag of your favorite undressed broccoli or cabbage slaw mix)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- ½ cup chopped apple (do not peel!)
- 3 tablespoons shelled and toasted sunflower seeds
- 3 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
For the yogurt-tahini dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup yogurt, plain, low-fat (regular, not Greek yogurt)
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- ½ tablespoon lime juice, fresh squeezed
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
To make the yogurt-tahini dressing:
- Whisk all of the "for the yogurt-tahini dressing" ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate while you prepare the slaw.
To assemble the kale apple slaw:
- Add the Power Blend, apples, sunflower seeds, onion, and dates to a large bowl.
- Pour the yogurt-tahini dressing over the top and give it a good stir. (Perhaps do not be quite as vigorous with the stirring as I was in the recipe video. Haha) That's all you need to do to make this easy veggie side dish!
Video
Notes
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). The nutrition information provided is for a very realistic serving size, ¼ of the recipe. However, you could stretch it into 6 servings if you are feeding a larger crowd. This slaw has an excellent nutrition profile, packed with essential vitamins, healthy fats from seeds, and fiber. However, it’s definitely a side dish since it is relatively low in protein. Make sure to include some protein foods when you compose your meal. I often post single entrée or side dish recipes. However, it is important to think about how each of these components might fit into the meal as a whole.
As I talked about above, I served the slaw with some BBQ ribs and corn. If you have a fat loss goal, higher-calorie side dishes (such as this one) are best served with lean proteins. By lean proteins, I’m referring to foods like extra lean beef burgers or chicken breast. Since this side dish is already providing almost 300 calories, using lighter (lower-calorie) foods for the rest of the meal will help to balance things out.
On the other hand, if you’re serving fatty meat (e.g., ribs), it may be best to go light on the sides. One of my easiest go-to low-calorie sides is a side salad of leafy greens with 1 tablespoon of dressing.
Nutrition information is for one serving of the recipe.Nutrition
Do you enjoy classic coleslaw recipes, made with lots of mayo, sugar, and vinegar? Have you ever tried making healthier slaws with less sugar and added oils? What sorts of foods did you include in your healthier coleslaw?
You probably know the drill by now, but don’t forget to let me know if you make this kale apple slaw! Five stars mean it was a hit!
Terrified Amateur says
That must be some creation, Summer, to draw a teenager's interest ahead of corn-on-the-cob and ribs. Seriously? We both know how impulsive teens are, and this affirmation is the highest compliment someone could pay the dish. Oh, and a supertaster giving it, no less.
With that endorsement, and the mega-benefits taken alongside, how can mere mortals resist? By Jove, I think you've done it!
Summer Yule says
Thank you! It's a good thing because I'm far more likely to make this on a regular basis versus the ribs. (Though I do love those ribs lol)
Terrified Amateur says
Yes, those ribs do look mighty tasty, too, but I didn't comment on them earlier, because this is the slaw's show. Top honors all around. Oh, the corn too.
Summer Yule says
Yes, t'was all good, and thank you!