Costa Rican Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

By Sam Sifton

Costa Rican Coleslaw Recipe (1)

Total Time
10 minutes, plus 2 hours' refrigeration
Rating
4(139)
Notes
Read community notes

Here is a version of a recipe I learned from Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby, in their indispensable guide to beachfront cooking, ‘‘Let the Flames Begin.’’ It has been central in my summer cooking repertory for more than a decade. Opinions may vary on the idea of hearts of palm and avocado in a coleslaw, but only until this dish is eaten.

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Ingredients

  • 2cups fresh orange juice
  • tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1small head of green cabbage, cored and sliced thin
  • 1small head of red cabbage, cored and sliced thin
  • 2medium carrots, peeled and sliced into thin strips
  • 1jar or can hearts of palm, 12-14 ounces, drained and sliced into thin strips
  • 1large avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced thin
  • 1medium tomato, seeded and cut into a fine dice
  • 3tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • ¼cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

214 calories; 13 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 734 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Costa Rican Coleslaw Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a small pot set over medium heat, combine the orange juice and cumin and reduce to ½ cup. Let cool.

  2. Step

    2

    Combine the cabbages, carrots, hearts of palm and avocado in a large, nonreactive bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

  3. Step

    3

    Put the diced tomatoes into a small, nonreactive bowl and add to them the reduced orange juice, the vinegar and olive oil and whisk to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  4. Step

    4

    Pour the dressing over the slaw and mix to combine. Serve immediately, or cover again and place in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours before serving.

Ratings

4

out of 5

139

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Betsy Karpenkopf

This was great. As promised, it was very easy. I sliced everything in the food processor (aside from the avocado). The reason behind making this recipe was my daughter's asking me what hearts of palm were, and she said we should make something with them. So, as usual, "Cooking" to the rescue! Voila: a colorful, crunchy,
easy salad for lunch.

Karen

Crunchy, fresh. Good mix of textures and flavors. May add jicama the next time.

Mary

Really good. The flavors worked very well. We just put the avocado on the top after it was served so that the avocado didn't get mushed up as the dressing was tossed in.

nikki

I found this dressing bitter but I’m guessing that’s because I tried to reduce the orange juice swiftly and had it at too high of a temperature. For those looking to speed it up, I would not recommend attempting my shortcut.

SaanaB

This is a great inspiration recipe in the days of covid19. I had to omit avo and tomato. Added cuke. Slicing the palm hearts lengthwise was a tiny revelation and very delish. I will incorporate this technique into noodle bowls and other slaws while sheltering in place.

Tante Stacey

I was intrigued by the orange juice/cumin mixture, but wasn't terribly impressed with the dish. Could be because I used pre cut cabbage in the bag. Not sure, but I don't think I'll try it again.

AAS

The OJ and cumin base was new to me, and really good. All agreed the taste was nice, but more “chewy” than pleasantly crunchy. Next time I’ll try to soften the texture by slicing the cabbage and carrots much thinner than shown in the photo, and perhaps mixing and applying the dressing to them while still hot.

Maureen

I made without hearts of palm because didn’t have any. Used some red bell pepper and chopped up some scallions. I mixed the avocado in to make creamy. Was really delicious.

Stella Luna

I had this salad in Costa Rica, exactly these ingredients but not mixed - they were stacked in individual molds, dressed and pressed down with a weight so that the salads came to the table as little rainbow columns that fell into a slaw with the pressure of your fork. Very pretty and the cumin, orange and tomato gave it such freshness.

K Bridge

Excellent on fish tacos.

add mango

Add mango

Jennifer

Hearts of palm and avocado do well together. Adding the crunchy slaw was a great marriage. This was surprisingly good and quick using my Benriner mandoline. The dressing is the star. I'm going to try using it with other salads, perhaps adding a bit of dijon mustard.

SaanaB

This is a great inspiration recipe in the days of covid19. I had to omit avo and tomato. Added cuke. Slicing the palm hearts lengthwise was a tiny revelation and very delish. I will incorporate this technique into noodle bowls and other slaws while sheltering in place.

carroll

Absolutely delicious and I would definitely make it again. But it takes way longer than 10 minutes to reduce the juice to a 1/2 cup at medium heat. More like 30 minutes.

nikki

I found this dressing bitter but I’m guessing that’s because I tried to reduce the orange juice swiftly and had it at too high of a temperature. For those looking to speed it up, I would not recommend attempting my shortcut.

Mary

Really good. The flavors worked very well. We just put the avocado on the top after it was served so that the avocado didn't get mushed up as the dressing was tossed in.

Karen

Crunchy, fresh. Good mix of textures and flavors. May add jicama the next time.

Betsy Karpenkopf

This was great. As promised, it was very easy. I sliced everything in the food processor (aside from the avocado). The reason behind making this recipe was my daughter's asking me what hearts of palm were, and she said we should make something with them. So, as usual, "Cooking" to the rescue! Voila: a colorful, crunchy,
easy salad for lunch.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Costa Rican Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

What is casado in Costa Rica? ›

Welcome to Costa Rica's national dish and most popular lunchtime special, the famed casado: white rice, black or red beans, cooked veggies (aka picadillo), and/or salad, plus your choice of protein (chicken, beef, fish, or eggs), usually with a side of cooked plantains.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

It's packed with shredded cabbage and julienned carrots (for health!) and tossed in the holy triumvirate of coleslaw dressing ingredients: apple cider vinegar for acidity, honey for balance, and mayonnaise to tie it all together (feel free to substitute up to half the mayo for tangier Greek yogurt or sour cream for an ...

What is a typical Costa Rican breakfast? ›

What is a typical Costa Rica Breakfast? In Costa Rica, a typical breakfast is Gallo Pinto! It is a Costa Rican rice and beans made with leftovers with plenty of great toppings added in. Sometimes Gallo Pinto is served with sausages, and sometimes with plantains.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Finely diced ingredients

What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly. More specifically, they dice cabbage, carrots, and onions, which are all crunchy and have a pleasant mouth feel.

What are the 3 most popular foods in Costa Rica? ›

Pinto and beans are a staple of Costa Rica and common denominator among different culinary tastes in different regions of the country. As a whole, the three most famous dishes of the country are Casado, Gallo Pinto and Arroz con Pollo.

What is Costa Rica's famous dish? ›

Gallo pinto, which has a literal meaning of "spotted rooster", is the national dish of Costa Rica. It consists of rice and beans stir-fried together in a pan to create a speckled appearance.

Which country invented coleslaw? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

What is Amish coleslaw made of? ›

Amish Vinegar Slaw or Old Fashioned Coleslaw is lighter and tangier than a classic mayo based slaw. Made with shredded cabbage, onion, apple cider vinegar, and dry mustard. This is the perfect quick Side Dish that you can bring along to BBQs, potlucks, and family gatherings.

What culture eats coleslaw? ›

Coleslaw (from the Dutch term koolsla meaning 'cabbage salad'), also known as cole slaw, or simply as slaw, is a side dish consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing or condiment, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise. This dish originated in the Netherlands in the 18th century.

What are 3 breakfast foods in Costa Rica? ›

Desayuno Típico: The Costa Rican Breakfast
  • One-pot of Gallo pinto with onion, red pepper, and cilantro. ...
  • A big plate of scrambled eggs made with butter and a pinch of salt. ...
  • A loaf or two of freshly baked bread with butter and jams from Friday farmer's markets (depending on how many people are eating).
Dec 7, 2022

What is Costa Rica daily food? ›

Traditional Costa Rican food is heavy on rice, beans and oil, and it's usually accompanied by fresh fruit juice or a local beer. To make up for the relative simplicity of the ingredients, Costa Rican chefs typically use an abundance of spices.

Are coleslaw and cabbage the same thing? ›

Most people refer to sliced or shredded raw cabbage coated with mayo- or vinegar-based dressing as coleslaw (or just slaw). It may also contain lemon juice, onions, shredded carrots, slivered almonds, and even fruit.

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

According to the OED, they said “slaw” slightly before they said “coleslaw”, but “cold slaw” was first (by folk etymology of Dutch koolsla). The oldest entries I can find recorded in print are to 1794, when Dutch speakers introduced the term into English from sla (meaning “salad”) and kool (meaning “cabbage”).

Is coleslaw the same as cabbage? ›

While cabbage salad often consists only of one vegetable seasoned and dressed, coleslaw can include a few other ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or seasonings to give some variety to the dish. While both feature cabbage as the star of the show, the different dressings set the two apart.

Why is coleslaw not called cabbage salad? ›

'Cold slaw': A Food Name Review. However cold your coleslaw may be, you are wise to spell it coleslaw. The word comes from a Dutch word (koolsla) that combines the Dutch words kool, meaning "cabbage," and sla, meaning "salad." Etymology is the main course.

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