Polish Coleslaw Recipe - Polish Foodies (2024)

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Polish Coleslaw Recipe - Polish Foodies (1)

Surowka z kapusty or Polish coleslaw is a delicious salad made from cabbage and other veggies. Dressed with mayo and flavored with salt and pepper, Polish coleslaw is best served cold!

Cabbage is one of our favorite vegetables. Eaten all year round, whether in season or out, you’ll find cabbage used in almost every Polish dish, from salads to main dishes. Even our national dish, Bigos Stew is made with cabbage.

Why is cabbage so popular in Poland? Because it’s a vegetable that can be eaten in a number of ways and that is easily available and affordable. Cabbages are easy to grow and easy to store.

The fresh cabbage used in a coleslaw makes it a crunchier and tastier salad option.

Who Invented Coleslaw?

Cabbage as part of a salad has been around since ancient Roman times. It has been a big part of many European cultures across the world.

The term ‘coleslaw’ is an anglicized version of the Dutch word ‘koolsa’ which means cabbage salad. And ‘colis’ means cabbage in Latin. The English took the ‘kool’ from the Dutch and the ‘cole’ from Latin and named it coleslaw.

In Poland, coleslaw is either referred to as coleslaw or koleslaw. But because cabbage is the main ingredient, it’s also sometimes referred to as surowka z kapusty.

As a summer salad, the surowka z kapusty is the perfect accompaniment to meaty dishes. It’s also tasty enough to eat on its own!

What Is Coleslaw Called In Other Countries?

There are many salads similar to coleslaw in different countries. They are called:

  • Coleslaw in English
  • Coleslaw or Koleslaw in Polish
  • Coleslaw or kalsallad in Swedish
  • Koolsla in Dutch
  • Krautsalat in German
  • Insalata capricciosa in Italy
  • Cabbage provençal in Russia and Ukraine

How To Make The Polish Coleslaw – Surowka Z Kapusty

Chop the cabbage finely, grate the carrots, and dice the onions. If adding leeks, dice them as well.

Mix the mayo with salt and then mix all the diced veggies with them. Serve cold!

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Tips For Making The Best Polish Coleslaw Recipe

  • Increase or decrease the amount of pepper and salt to suit your taste.
  • If you don’t want to chop the cabbage and veggies, you can do it using a large Y-peeler or a cabbage shredder.
  • To make it less fattening, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or yogurt.
  • Add a few drops of lemon juice in the mayonnaise to make it tangy.
  • Store the coleslaw in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. It tastes better cold!
  • You can add some olive oil as a dressing.
  • Optionally, top with chopped parsley before serving!
Polish Coleslaw Recipe - Polish Foodies (6)

FAQs About Preparing The Polish Coleslaw Recipe

What To Serve With Polish Coleslaw?

Polish coleslaw is the perfect side salad for fish or meaty dishes such as:

  • Kotlet Schabowy(pork cutlets)
  • Kotlety Mielone
  • Golonka W Piwie – Pork knuckles or Poznan-style pork hock
  • Fried or baked chicken
  • Grilled or fried kielbasa sausages
  • Meatloaf with boiled eggs
  • Polish Ryba Po Grecku Fish

Is It Possible To Make This Salad Vegan?

Yes, you can make this salad vegan by replacing the mayo withvegan mayonnaise.

How To Store The Polish Coleslaw?

Store the Polish coleslaw in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Serve cold!

What Are The Other Polish Cabbage Salads?

The other Polish cabbage salads are:

  • Kapusta Zasmazana – fried cabbage
  • Polish red cabbage salad

What Are The Other Polish Cabbage Dishes?

There are so many Polish cabbage dishes, you’ll have difficulty choosing which to make.

  • Lazy golabki
  • Polish cabbage lasagna
  • Pierogi made with fresh cabbage
  • Golumpki cabbage rolls
  • Christmas sauerkraut with mushrooms
  • Kapusta Z Grochem

Polish Coleslaw Recipe

Polish Coleslaw Recipe - Polish Foodies (7)

The Polish coleslaw is a delicious salad made from cabbage, carrots and leeks. Dressed with mayo and flavored with salt and pepper, Polish coleslaw is best served cold!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 small cabbage
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • ¼ tsp of black pepper
  • 3-4 tbsps of mayonnaise
  • [optionally] 1 leek (the white part)
  • [optionally] a bunch of fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Wash and finely chop the cabbage.
  2. Peel and grate the carrots.
  3. Peel and finely dice an onion. If you are adding leek, dice it as well.
  4. If you are adding parsley, wash and dice it as well.
  5. Mix mayonnaise with salt and pepper.
  6. Mix everything together. Serve cold.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 158Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 432mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

These data are indicative and calculated by Nutritionix

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Polish Coleslaw Recipe - Polish Foodies (2024)

FAQs

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Yes, you can make coleslaw in advance. Making it a day before your event is a good idea, as the flavors will continue to meld and develop as it sits. That makes it perfect as a make-ahead potluck recipe.

How do you make coleslaw less sour? ›

You probably need more sugar. If it's bitter, it's likely that your acidic component (likely a form of vinegar and/or ketchup, depending on the kind of slaw you are making) is overwhelming the sweet component. If you don't want to add sugar, you can try adding shredded apples.

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

The solution: Some recipes call for soaking cabbage in ice water to make it crisp and plump.

How do you thicken up coleslaw? ›

You can use a ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum in your copycat KFC coleslaw to thicken up the dressing, which is made with canola oil, mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and xanthan gum. You'll find this dressing super thick and perfect for binding together the tiny flecks of grated cabbage and carrot in the coleslaw.

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? ›

KFC coleslaw has a sweet and tangy taste, with a creamy texture. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinct flavor. The coleslaw also contains shredded cabbage and carrots, which add a crisp and fresh texture to the dish.

Is coleslaw good or bad for you? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

Should you wash bagged coleslaw? ›

Bagged or ready-to-eat, fresh-cut produce

If the product is not labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat," it must be washed before eating.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

What is traditional coleslaw made of? Traditional coleslaw is little more than shredded cabbage and a creamy dressing. This recipe adds a bit more flavor with shredded carrots and onion. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, for a just right tangy-sweet flavor.

Do you have to wash cabbage to make coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

What flavor cancels out sour? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal.

Why does coleslaw turn pink? ›

Red cabbage, red radishes, and red onions have pigments that bleed into the slaw and turn it pink after several hours. Red cabbage can also stain plastic bowls.

Why is my coleslaw bland? ›

Neglecting to add enough spices or seasoning

Perhaps the recipe you followed is just inherently bland. If your dressing is already applied, you only have one choice left to turn your coleslaw around. You've got to add some seasoning or spice. Start by adding salt and pepper to taste.

Why does coleslaw get soggy? ›

The problem is that cabbage naturally contains a lot of water, which can leak out to create a coleslaw soup. The solution is to salt the cabbage first. This will draw out the moisture and allow you to make a perfect, non-watery coleslaw.

How do you get moisture out of cabbage? ›

Place salted cabbage in a colander over a bowl for 1 to 2 hours. The salt pulls moisture out of the cabbage, seasons it, and leaves you with a super-crunchy texture that isn't raw or tough-tasting. Rinse! Rinse well to purge the salt.

How long should coleslaw sit in the fridge? ›

How Long Does Coleslaw Last? Assuming that you're storing your coleslaw in the refrigerator — and haven't taken it out for a stretch of time and put it back in — coleslaw can safely last up to five days. However, it's important to remember that this is the maximum amount of time it should be kept.

Should cabbage be washed before making coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

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