6/04/13

Southern-Style Coleslaw

A tried-and-true family coleslaw recipe that’s slightly sweet with just the right amount of twang. It’s very similar to KFC's and comes out perfect every time!

You know you’ve come across good coleslaw when you can name the place that has it. I have three favorites and they are all very different.

My #1 favorite is this recipe which tastes an awful lot like KFC’s. It’s tangy and a little sweet with a fine shred and a little bite. It didn’t dawn on me that it tasted like KFC’s until folks started telling me so. I actually like it a teeniny bit better because I add (optional) horseradish which I think makes it!

My #2 is from a fried chicken joint nearby called Zesto (I hear they have good burgers too but I couldn’t tell you because the chicken is so good I have never once ordered anything different in all my 46 years). Their coleslaw is unlike anything I’ve ever had anywhere else. The cabbage is chopped into small cubes and there can’t be much more in it than mayo and salt because it’s not one bit sweet or tangy but, my Lord, it’s good.

Southern-Style Coleslaw - A tried-and-true family coleslaw recipe that’s slightly sweet with just the right amount of twang. It’s very similar to KFC's and comes out perfect every time!

My #3 is from a place that doesn’t exist anymore. There used to be a Mini-Mart gas station in my hometown of Swansea, SC that had a fried chicken counter. The chicken and tater wedges were great but the coleslaw was fabulous. It must have had a ton of horseradish in it because it had a definite bite. It was sweet and tangy and very finely grated. I’m also pretty sure there was some green food color in there somewhere because it was unnaturally green but, meh, when you’re getting your supper at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, you’re prone to overlook these things. 

I know you can buy the pre-shredded cabbage nowadays but if you want real-deal Southern-style coleslaw, you've got to shred your own. I promise it’s not hard!

You can easily shred a head of cabbage with a hand-held box grater in just a few minutes. If you've never done it before and find the thought a little daunting, just cut the cabbage into eight wedges, cut out the core, then shred each wedge “against the grain”. It’s simple enough that I never bother dragging out my food processor.

Now, I like my coleslaw with a little horseradish because it has a nice bite (see my #3 above) but if you want to leave it out, feel free. This recipe makes a moist, slightly sweet coleslaw with just the right amount of twang.

Southern-Style Coleslaw - A tried-and-true family coleslaw recipe that’s slightly sweet with just the right amount of twang. It’s very similar to KFC's and comes out perfect every time!

HERE ARE SOME OTHER SOUTHERN SIDE DISHES!

Country-Style Baby Lima Beans - A no-fail Southern recipe for tender baby lima beans (butterbeans) cooked low and slow with bacon.

Southern-Style Canned Green Beans - The trick to making perfectly cooked Southern-style green beans with canned beans - the beans don’t fall apart but taste like they’ve cooked all day!

Slow Cooker Pinto Beans - Dried pintos beans cook up creamy and tender with a smoky, silky sauce that's perfect with cornbread.

Southern-Style Potato Salad - A simple recipe for potato salad with mayonnaise, a little mustard, a bit of pickle relish and boiled eggs.

Collard Greens - A step-by-step recipe for cooking the best authentic Southern collard greens.

Southern-Style Macaroni & Cheese - The BEST baked Macaroni & Cheese EVER. A custard-style recipe for baked southern Mac & Cheese using eggs and evaporated milk.

coleslaw, homemade, kfc, copycat, southern, horseradish, sugar, vinegar, cabbage, best,
side dish, salad
american, southern
Yield: 10-12 Servings
Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth
Southern-Style Coleslaw

Southern-Style Coleslaw

A tried-and-true family coleslaw recipe that’s slightly sweet with just the right amount of twang. It’s very similar to KFC's and comes out perfect every time!
Prep time: 15 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Ingredients

  • 1 head of cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1 carrot, finely shredded
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 3 teaspoons grated horseradish (to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Add shredded cabbage and carrot to a large mixing bowl; set aside.
  2. In a smaller bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients until thoroughly combined . Add mayonnaise mixture to cabbage and carrots then mix well.
  3. Taste for seasoning then add more to taste.
  4. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes:

You can easily shred a head of cabbage with a hand-held box grater in just a few minutes. Just cut the cabbage into eight wedges, cut out the core, then shred each wedge “against the grain”.

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25 comments:

  1. Duchess of Chicken and Dumplings6/4/13, 1:39 PM

    I wish I had this recipe last night! My stud of a husband made a small portion of slaw and it just tasted like mayo and it was too late to call my Gramma and ask for the recipe. Tonight there will be redemption!

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  2. I cant wait to try this. Hubby loves KFC coleslaw, so usually add tarragon & sugar. A little too sweet for me, but he lovesssssssssss horseradish. Would be a welcome change!

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  3. forgetting the coleslaw and deviled eggs must be a Southern thing cause they always got forgotten at our house too lol. Actually we live in IN but Dad was from KY and Mom from TN so we still claimed to be from the South lol.

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  4. Thank you thank you thank you! This is how my Gramma Ginny used to make it and I never could get the receipe right. Now....got anything for potato salad that has eggs and finely cut up potatoes???? My hubbys stepmom made the best potato salad and sadly she has passed.....I so miss summer without it. Thanks again!

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    1. You're welcome! I hope you like it! This is how I make my potato salad (but errrrrybody makes it differently!) http://www.southyourmouth.com/2013/01/southern-style-potato-salad.html

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  5. I made this tonight and it was DELICIOUS! Actually, I didn't have the horseradish on hand, so I just went without it. I can't wait to try it with, though. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm so happy to have a "go to" recipe for coleslaw now!

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    1. YAY!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you liked it!

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  6. I make a coleslaw everyone loves... everyone except me, that is! THIS is the recipe I've been looking for.... THANKS!!

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    1. And I'm Angie, by the way. :)

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  7. I make mine the same way except I use Miracle Whip.

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  8. Phyllis By the way

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  9. Wow! This is just like the cole slaw I make sans the milk & horseradish. Also, I make the dressing first & let it "rest" while I shred the cabbage & carrot. I've had so many ask for my recipe & I don't know what to tell them as I've been "eye balling" it for 40 +/- years! I will try it with these measurements then I will have something to tell people the next time someone asks. It is really deelish by the way!!! My name is Linda F. (I couldn't put it in the requested space!)

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  10. Instead of white vinegar I used apple cider vinegar. Also left out the horseradish and use a few drops of Texas Pete. Also used a tablespoon of lemon juice. Better the next day flavors had time to marry.

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  11. Beautiful, and tasty! Never thought to add horse radish, but now I gots to try that! I bet it makes the coleslaw sing.

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  12. I use a little more mayo and sugar, apple cider vinegar and just a tiny bit of prepared yellow mustard. Don't like horseradish so never use it. Barbara in VA

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  13. Love your blog. You do so many things that I like and my family likes. Happy Holidays.

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  14. Karen in Dallas12/11/14, 12:54 AM

    Sounds good to me! Similar to mine, I add a bit of red cabbage for color, only use the mayo that begins with H or D, I don't add milk, and I use red wine vinegar (and sometimes a splash of pickled jalapeno pepper juice). I love it to cut through the fat in mashed potatoes and stuffing/dressing. I have to have it at Thanksgiving, Christmas and anytime there is bar-b-que!

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  15. Sounds good (minus the horseradish, my husband won't eat it) to me. Pinning to try!

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  17. Best Coleslaw I have eaten

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  18. I doubled the recipe but only used half the horseradish because I was afraid it might be too strong. It was really, really delicious. It may be even better with all the horseradish, but it was for a family reunion and I was afraid it might be too strong for some people. I might try it next time full horseradish. It's a keeper.
    Kay Lynn

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  19. I've been looking for a sweet coleslaw recipe that isn't full of slimy mayo and this is it! I used some cider vinegar and some white, and added celery seed (hey, I'm from New Jersey!) and substituted green onion for the horseradish. It's perfect.

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  20. My mom used to make this. She didn't use horseradish, but sometimes she added crushed pineapple.... Delicious!

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    1. A little late to the party but...love the horseradish idea!! Being from the south we have to add buttermilk(1/2 cup) along w/ 1/4 cup milk, white vinegar AND lemon juice. Been making this same recipe since the early '80's. Can't wait to make it with horseradish! The comment above about pineapple. Do that sometimes with tibits. Very good, also. Call me the Cole slaw lady;)!

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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.

I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).

And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy