Southwest Coleslaw

When I lived in Michigan, every summer, my friend Kim made a southwest coleslaw recipe everyone lived. Of course, it wasn’t vegan, so recently, I asked for her recipe, so I could “veganize” it for my family. So, my southwest coleslaw recipe is a vegan version of Kim’s recipe, but I added a few other veggies to make it a meal rather than a side dish. But, feel free to serve southwest coleslaw as a side dish or an entree! 

Even though I added a few more veggies and a different coleslaw combination, the integrity of the creamy coleslaw is the same. Similar to Kim’s recipe I added tortilla strips, but I made my homemade, oil-free tortilla strips instead of using bagged tortilla strips. And, I used my Vegan Southwest Dressing in place of the southwest ranch dressing in her recipe. 

So, let’s make southwest coleslaw recipe the vegan way. 

THE INGREDIENTS FOR SOUTHWEST COLESLAW 

First, I chose a 10-ounce bag of Trader Joe’s  Cruciferous Crunch Collection, which is a bag of shredded kale, Brussels sprouts, green cabbage, and red cabbage. 

OTHER SUGGESTED COLESLAW COMBINATIONS: PICK YOUR FAVORITE

• Napa cabbage and red cabbage
• Green cabbage and red cabbage
• Broccoli slaw
• Jicama Slaw

OTHER SOUTHWEST COLESLAW INGREDIENTS

• Shredded carrots
• Corn (fresh grilled corn on the cob, canned or frozen corn or hominy)
• Black beans (or sub pinto beans or chickpeas)
• Jalapeno
• Green onions
• Radishes
• Baby bell peppers

DRESS WITH A HEALTHY VEGAN SOUTHWEST DRESSING RECIPE

One of my favorite salad dressing, Vegan Southwest Dressing, is perfect for this southwest coleslaw recipe. 

HOW TO MAKE OIL-FREE TORTILLA STRIPS

If you love the crunch of tortilla chips or tortilla strips, there is an easy way to make oil-free, healthy ones! All you need is a few ingredients and an air-fryer or oven. 

First, find your favorite oil-free tortillas. Some of my favorites, for example, are a combination of yellow and white corn but pick your favorite. Here are some great no-oil brands I love. 

• Engine 2 Tortillas
• Mission Corn Tortillas
• Del Campo Corn Tortillas 
• Mr. Tortilla Tortillas

To begin, I used white corn tortillas, and using a pizza cutter, I cut the tortilla in strips. Then, I added the cut tortillas into a bowl and tossed them in the juice of a lime. Next, I sprinkled a combination of chili powder and cumin. 

Once seasoned, I add to the basket of my air-fryer, and cook at 370 degrees for 10 minutes, tossing once at the 5 minutes mark. If using an oven, place lime soaked and seasoned tortilla strips on a baking sheet with a silicone baking and cook in a 375-degree oven. Then, remove from the oven and turn over and cook for another 10 minutes. 

When I serve southwest coleslaw, I like to add the tortilla strips on top for a little extra crunch. 

In order to “veganize” any recipe, all you need to do is replace the non-vegan ingredients with your favorite vegan ingredients. Any recipe, even my friend Kim’s southwest coleslaw recipe, can be made healthy and plant-based. 

INTERESTED IN OTHER VEGANIZED SALADS? YOU WILL LOVE THESE

• Chinese Chicken Salad 
• Vegan Chicken Salad
• Chickpea Tuna Salad
• Jackfruit Tuna Salad
• Antipasto Salad
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Vegan Taco Salad

Yield: 6 servings

Southwest Coleslaw

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Southwest coleslaw is a combination of coleslaw, vegetables, and beans in a slightly spicy southwest dressing topped with oil-free air-fried tortilla strips.

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Ingredients

Salad

• 1 10 ounce bag coleslaw (I used Trader Joe's Cruciferous Crunch Collection) 
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup sliced baby bell peppers
• 1 jalapeno, deseeded and  vein removed
• 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1/2 cup cilantro (garnish)

Air-fried Tortilla Strips (oil-free)

• 4 corn tortillas
• 1 lime juiced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin

Instructions

COLESLAW SALAD

1. Add coleslaw mix to the base of a large bowl
2. Drain black beans and corn
3. Add other chopped vegetables

SOUTHWEST DRESSING

1. Make vegan southwest dressing recipe
2. Dress the salad in advance, toss and refrigerate. This is recommended especially if using a kale based slaw to soften the kale prior to eating.

OIL-FREE, AIR-FRIED TORTILLA STRIPS/OVEN OPTION

1. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, slice tortillas into strips.
2. Then, toss in the juice of 1 lime, and season with chili powder and cumin.
3. Transfer tortilla strips to an air-fryer pan.
4. Set Air-fryer to 370 degrees.
5. Cook for 10 minutes; tossing at 5 minutes.
6. Remove from the air-fryer pan.
7. Let cool.

OVEN OPTION

1. If using an oven, place lime soaked and seasoned tortilla strips on a baking sheet with a silicone baking and cook in a 375-degree oven.
2. Then, remove from the oven and turn over and cook for another 10 minutes. 
   

SERVE

1. Spoon southwest salad into individual bowls or serve as a side dish
2. Top with air-fried oil-free tortilla strips and cilantro

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Nutrition Information

Yield

6 servings

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 224Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 4mgSodium 318mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 9gSugar 8gProtein 7g

Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.

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