Mango Slaw

Mango slaw is a combination of crisp and fresh vegetables with sweet mango in a tangy dressing that will tempt your tastebuds. Eat it as a main salad, add tofu or tempeh, or add mango slaw to the top of your favorite sandwich.

Mango slaw is honestly a crunchy, sweet, and savory sensation. In fact, I think any recipe with mango tastes fabulous, especially pairs with the right dressing. 

Jump to:

• Cabbage Health Benefits
• Types of Cabbage
• How to Choose and Cut a Mango
• Coleslaw Ingredients
• Substitutions
• Dressing Ingredients
• Dressing Substitutions
• Serving Suggestions 
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Great Summer Salad Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

When I was a kid, I remember coleslaw drenched in mayonnaise and tasting sour. But, all slaw is not created equal.

In fact, my mango slaw recipe is loaded with crunchy vegetables, which is the perfect side dish, entree with jerk tempeh added to the top or placed inside a vegan toasted ciabatta bun with mango slaw on top. 

Cabbage Health Benefits

According to Healthline, cabbage has 9 Health benefits:

1. Cabbage is packed with nutrients.
2. Helps reduce inflammation
3. Helps improve digestion
4. Packed with vitamin C
5. Lowers blood pressure
6. Contributes to good heart health
7. Helps lower cholesterol
8. Excellent source of vitamin K
9. And it is easy to add to any diet.

In other words, eating cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables is good for our overall health and well-being. 

Types of Cabbage

For example, there are 4 different types of cabbage commonly found in the grocery store. 

Green cabbage, for instance, is the most commonly used cabbage for salads and stir-fries. I actually use it in my Grilled Asian Sesame Tofu with Vegetable Slaw recipe. 

Savory cabbage, however, is denser with ridged leaves. Often, I use it with a combination of lettuces in salads, which adds to the texture. 

Napa cabbage, similar to bib lettuce, also is denser and has ridged leaves. Bitter and peppery in taste, however, this cabbage is generally used to make kimchi.

On the other hand, purple cabbage is similar to white cabbage, but it is a vibrant magenta color. Also perfect for salads, I have chosen this type of cabbage simply because of its beauty. 

I chose a combination of green and purple cabbage for this mango slaw recipe, but any cabbage will work perfectly.  

How to Choose and Cut a Mango

According to Mango.org, choosing a mango is all about smell and touch, so squeeze away! 

• When picking a mango, don’t focus on color. It is not the best indicator of ripeness.
• Squeeze the mango gently. A ripe mango will give slightly.
• Use your experience with produce such as peaches and avocados, which also become softer as they ripen.
• Ripe mangos will sometimes have a fruity aroma at their stems.
• The red color that appears on some varieties is not an indicator of ripeness. Always judge by feel.

When I bought my first mango, I struggled to cut it; to be honest, I demolished it! Then, I figured out the secret, and I now buy mangos confidently. 

First, mangoes need to be peeled with a vegetable peeler. Once peeled, lay the mango on one side and score the mango lengthwise and then sideways, pushing the knife in until you reach the hard inner core. 

Next, make one clean put as close to the core as possible, and repeat the process with the remaining three sides. 

Coleslaw Ingredients

• Green Cabbage or Napa Cabbage: I like napa cabbage for its thin and whispy leaves, but any cabbage works well.
• Red Cabbage: I chose to add red cabbage for the color as texture.
• Carrots: Shredded carrots are the best cut for this salad, so the ingredients have a common texture.
• Scallions (Green Onions): I add the white and green parts of the green onion for this salad.
• Mango: Fresh mango is best, especially when in season.

Substitutions

• Add red bell peppers in thin slices for additional color.
• Red onion or pickled red onions add an additional sweetness and tang to the mango slaw.
• Add thin slices of jalapeno or serrano peppers to add a little spiciness to the slaw recipe.
• Sometimes, fresh-cut mango is already cut and prepared in containers at the grocery as a shortcut.

Dressing Ingredients

• Champagne Vinegar: Champagne vinegar is made from champagne. It has a relatively light taste and is in fact one of the more delicate kinds of vinegar.
• Water: Since I don't cook with oil, the water acts as an emulsifier for the dressing.
• Maple Syrup: I like maple syrup as a sugar replacement in dressing recipes.
• Lime Juice: Lime and mango are fabulous together.
• Salt and pepper to taste: Just a little salt and pepper brings the dressing together. I prefer fresh ground pepper.

Dressing Substitutions

• If you can't find champagne vinegar, use rice vinegar instead.
• Date syrup or agave makes a great substitute for maple syrup.

Serving Suggestions 

Coleslaw, unlike other salads, are better when dressed before serving. In fact, the longer the mango slaw marinates in the dressing, the more profound the flavors of the dressing and ingredients.

And, coleslaw lasts for days in the refrigerator, dressed, without wilting. For that reason, I generally make a big batch of mango slaw and use it for different recipes throughout the week. 

Although the mango slaw can be eaten as a side dish or even a main dish, I also enjoy it with tempeh or tofu on top. Besides, mango slaw is great as a sandwich topper. 

Regardless of how you eat mango slaw, the combination of crisp and fresh vegetables with sweet mango in a tangy dressing will tempt your tastebuds. 

 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Even though pre-bagged coleslaw and salads cost more, sometimes, I buy a bag if I don't have plans for the rest of the two cabbages I purchase. 
• Or, sometimes, my store carries ½ cabbages, already cut to purchase. 
• Another idea is to buy 1 cabbage and skip the variety and color to save money. 
• Make the salad ahead of time and dress it so the flavors enhance while it chills together.
• Add additional vegetables such as red bell peppers, red onions, or your favorite for an entree salad.
• Try peanut Thai dressing as a different dressing option.

Give this mango coleslaw recipe a try this summer, for a refreshing new salad idea!

Great Summer Salad Recipes

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📖 Recipe