One of my Chief Culinary Consultant’s best friends has an unbelievable knack for throwing delicious summer parties. I walk away from every one of his get-togethers with a recipe I have to make. These parties have brought you the Beer and Brown Sugar Kielbasa & Sauerkraut, they’ve introduced me to the phenomenal Harry & David relishes and last year, I was reminded that I really needed to dig out my Aunt Dorothy’s recipe for Chinese Coleslaw. Before last year’s 4th of July cookout, I couldn’t remember the last time I had this coleslaw, but it was one of the side dishes that day and I (unapologetically) had several servings. It’s one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make, it feeds an army and people always rave about it, which makes it absolutely perfect for bringing to parties and get-togethers when you’re not sure what to make.
Growing up, my Great Aunt Dorothy was the keeper of the Fourth of July holiday – she had a cookout each and every year for extended family. While I don’t remember much about food from that long ago, I firmly associate two dishes with her and that picnic – this coleslaw and Strawberry Pretzel Salad. It’s probably no coincidence that I have little problem polishing off either one all by myself! This recipe is a combination of coleslaw, almonds, sunflower seeds, green onions and crushed Ramen noodles, tossed together with a sweetly seasoned dressing. It’s very light, and as a result, a perfect addition to summer menus.
I hope there’s another summer party in the works so I can discover more great recipes! What are some of your favorite eats for cookout/picnic season?
Simple and satisfying. My mom has made a version of this for years. I add whatever crunchy thing or fruit (orange segments, shredded apple) I have around that fits.
I had this at a pot luck dinner and just loved it! I found your recipe online and it is perfect!! We do not eat onions so I omitted them. Yum-yum!! This is a keeper and easy to make!!
Hi Rentzi, This actually calls for regular white (distilled) vinegar, not white wine vinegar. I have never tried it with rice wine vinegar, I think it would impart a milder flavor.
I just happened across this recipe and it popped out at me. The only time I had this was when my Mom was visiting for the birth of my 4th child. She made it for us and I only saw her once after that before she died at the age of 51. I was only 34, and I always try to URGE other women to visit your Mom and go Christmas shopping with her and call her NOW. You just never know when it will be too late. Thanks for the memory.
Love this classic recipe! I usually toast the sunflower seeds, sliced almonds and crushed noodles in a fry pan on the stove before adding to the salad…try it! I also sometimes add a little soy sauce and peanut butter to the dressing…especially yummy with shredded chicken and even a squeeze of fresh orange or a thin slice for garnish…summer is coming and this recipe is on the menu!!!
I just made this for tonight’s roofdeck bbq. Left out the nuts due to food allergies and added more sunflower seeds for crunch. This is outstanding!!!! Perfect alternative to mayo based side dishes. Like the suggestion with the chopped up leftover grilled chicken. I will be making this again!
Made the coleslaw this weekend. I highly recommend this recipe. Its a keeper. My family loved everything about it. As one of the reviewers suggested, I chopped up grilled chicken in the leftover slaw as a meal the next day. It was even better.
Funny, last night I went out for a family dinner to a local hole in the wall that my dad loves and this was actually on their menu. You could order it as a main dish salad with or without added chicken (my dad and brother both did) or as a side item with your sandwich (dad’s wife).
This was a popular summer salad to bring to BBQs at our Lake in the 90’s! Try: 1) dressing- 1/4 cup sunflower oil, 2tbs soya sauce, 2tbs vinegar, 2tsp sugar; 2) Crunch up the ramen noodles and fry them in a touch of oil until golden and add the sesame seeds close to end to toast (up to you whether you sprinkle some of the nasty-for-you flavour pack at end), add to salad just before serving to keep crispy; and 3) This salad can also be made with anything and everything! Add whatever you need to clear out of your fridge – some lettuce, bean sprouts, corn, broccoli, carrot (maybe not tomatoes). Add some chicken and it is a great dinner salad
This recipe looks great, but what are Ramen noodles, are they already cooked?What does a coleslaw mix have in it – onions, cabbage, carrot??? Please give details for those of us who do not live in convenience heaven!
Hi Scilla, Ramen noodles are sold in square packages – they are dried Asian-style dried noodles that usually come with a seasoning packet. You’ll find them in any grocery store. A coleslaw mix usually has purple and green cabbage, along with shredded carrots.
My mom makes something almost just like this and I have always loved it! But when she gave me her recipe, I about choked when I started adding up the calories! So I made my own version with way fewer calories. Now I can have this tasty side without all the guilt. I love it!
Cabbage costs about $1 a head and takes about 1 minute to chop into ribbons for slaw. In the summer I buy it weekly for a fresh slaw as a change of pace from other salads or sides–and I never use a “mayo” based dressing. I’ll be trying an adaptation of this recipe.
I have made this for years and have always used a seasoned rice vinegar and a little sesame oil. I also added toasted sesame seeds instead of sunflower seeds. I always chop my own cabbage but like the idea of using bagged for the extra color.
So intrigued by the use of the dried ramen seasoning in the dressing. Great way to use every part! Will definitely have to serve some of this up. Is there a particular ramen brand you use? Congrats on top 9!!
I’ve used the regular stuff you find in the grocery store, and also a beef-flavored package from the Asian aisle as well. (I can’t remember brand names, unfortunately!)
I’ve never heard of Chinese coleslaw… I’m actually Chinese so this makes me wonder if it’s not one of those fortune cookie things where it’s actually American in origin. I do wonder though, what makes it Chinese? Is it just the ramen? Is that supposed to offensive?
Youre right Sherry, its not Chinese or Asian. it jsut showed up on the itnernet a couple of years ago, and everyone is swearing theyve enjoyed it since the 70’s. Ive been around since the 60’s, and i never heard of it in USA either until last year. the sodium alone is extrmely unhealthy, due to several reasons, i cannot chew this and i certainly dont need tankles from my HBP. =)
Thanks for getting back with me. I think you are right and I actually thought that right after I wrote it…like duh… depends if I’m on low carb or what…. doi:D Now that control part (otherwise known as moderation)… hmmmmm what to do about that??? lol
I love this with a little chicken as well, but the REAL secret is to use PEANUT OIL instead of veg or corn oil. VERY tasty! I think a few drops of sesame oil (which is very strong) and maybe some fresh ginger would be yummy too. I’m going to make this today!!
This coleslaw is my absolute favorite way to eat a head of cabbage! Mine is just a little different (with the use of sesame oil and tamari instead of vinegar), but I could totally eat a huge bowl of this for lunch. I have to control myself around the stuff :)
Hi Angela, To be honest, there are so many different kinds of diets nowadays that I really can’t say one way or the other whether this recipe would work for your particular diet. You can check to see if any of the ingredients are “no-no’s”, or plug it into a calorie calculator to see what the nutrition stats are. I generally feel that anything in moderation isn’t going to kill you, but I can’t give a definitive yes or no for anyone’s specific diet situation.
I do a similar recipe that includes chicken (we have it as a main dish), but I love the addition of the almonds and the sunflowers seeds in yours! I’m going to have to try that next time.
Hi Rebecca, Just smaller pieces. I just take the package and crush it in my hands. You can see in the photos that there are little pieces, not crushed into crumbs, though.
This is delicious – even the kids like it! We use one bag of cole slaw and one bag of broccoli slaw. We brown the ramen noodles in the oven first. Just a different recipe. So Yummy!
To avoid overly soft noodles I mix everything together EXCEPT the crushed noodles and the dressing. I toss it all together 30 minutes before serving. If the salad isn’t going to be eaten in one day then I mix smaller amounts of each.
This is a great recipe
Simple and satisfying. My mom has made a version of this for years. I add whatever crunchy thing or fruit (orange segments, shredded apple) I have around that fits.
Try toasting those crushed ramen noodles in the oven, drizzled with a touch of sesame oil!
I had this at a pot luck dinner and just loved it! I found your recipe online and it is perfect!! We do not eat onions so I omitted them. Yum-yum!! This is a keeper and easy to make!!
So I happen to have rice vinegar? Do you think that would be good instead of white wine vinegar?
Hi Rentzi, This actually calls for regular white (distilled) vinegar, not white wine vinegar. I have never tried it with rice wine vinegar, I think it would impart a milder flavor.
I’ve made this with the broccoli slaw mix too. Either way it’s really good :)
This was delicious! I cut the recipe in half though, a full order would be more than I could consume in a couple of weeks :)
I will add dried cranberries for a bit of sweet
This salad is always a hit at get-togethers. Thanks for sharing!!
I just happened across this recipe and it popped out at me. The only time I had this was when my Mom was visiting for the birth of my 4th child. She made it for us and I only saw her once after that before she died at the age of 51. I was only 34, and I always try to URGE other women to visit your Mom and go Christmas shopping with her and call her NOW. You just never know when it will be too late. Thanks for the memory.
Rather than frying we toast them in the oven on broil. Same with sunflower seeds and almonds. I am asked to make it for family gatherings.
Love this classic recipe! I usually toast the sunflower seeds, sliced almonds and crushed noodles in a fry pan on the stove before adding to the salad…try it! I also sometimes add a little soy sauce and peanut butter to the dressing…especially yummy with shredded chicken and even a squeeze of fresh orange or a thin slice for garnish…summer is coming and this recipe is on the menu!!!
hey this is looks amazing i never try it but i wanna do it .. so can u tell me if the noodles suppose to be crunchy ??? or soft ???
The noodles should be crunchy. Enjoy!
Add a few tbsp of soy for an added kick. Great recipe.
I like Chinese Coleslaw and thank you the nice recipe. i will try at home :-)
I just made this for tonight’s roofdeck bbq. Left out the nuts due to food allergies and added more sunflower seeds for crunch. This is outstanding!!!! Perfect alternative to mayo based side dishes. Like the suggestion with the chopped up leftover grilled chicken. I will be making this again!
Made the coleslaw this weekend. I highly recommend this recipe. Its a keeper. My family loved everything about it. As one of the reviewers suggested, I chopped up grilled chicken in the leftover slaw as a meal the next day. It was even better.
Funny, last night I went out for a family dinner to a local hole in the wall that my dad loves and this was actually on their menu. You could order it as a main dish salad with or without added chicken (my dad and brother both did) or as a side item with your sandwich (dad’s wife).
This is great, it looks yummy and refreshing. Probably some paprika or black pepper would added some extra flavor. :)
This was a popular summer salad to bring to BBQs at our Lake in the 90’s! Try: 1) dressing- 1/4 cup sunflower oil, 2tbs soya sauce, 2tbs vinegar, 2tsp sugar; 2) Crunch up the ramen noodles and fry them in a touch of oil until golden and add the sesame seeds close to end to toast (up to you whether you sprinkle some of the nasty-for-you flavour pack at end), add to salad just before serving to keep crispy; and 3) This salad can also be made with anything and everything! Add whatever you need to clear out of your fridge – some lettuce, bean sprouts, corn, broccoli, carrot (maybe not tomatoes). Add some chicken and it is a great dinner salad
Hi Boomer, Thanks for the adaptation suggestions, I’m going to give those a try!
This recipe looks great, but what are Ramen noodles, are they already cooked?What does a coleslaw mix have in it – onions, cabbage, carrot??? Please give details for those of us who do not live in convenience heaven!
Hi Scilla, Ramen noodles are sold in square packages – they are dried Asian-style dried noodles that usually come with a seasoning packet. You’ll find them in any grocery store. A coleslaw mix usually has purple and green cabbage, along with shredded carrots.
My mom makes something almost just like this and I have always loved it! But when she gave me her recipe, I about choked when I started adding up the calories! So I made my own version with way fewer calories. Now I can have this tasty side without all the guilt. I love it!
Congratulations on your foodbuzz top 9, today!
Cabbage costs about $1 a head and takes about 1 minute to chop into ribbons for slaw. In the summer I buy it weekly for a fresh slaw as a change of pace from other salads or sides–and I never use a “mayo” based dressing. I’ll be trying an adaptation of this recipe.
I have made this for years and have always used a seasoned rice vinegar and a little sesame oil. I also added toasted sesame seeds instead of sunflower seeds. I always chop my own cabbage but like the idea of using bagged for the extra color.
So intrigued by the use of the dried ramen seasoning in the dressing. Great way to use every part! Will definitely have to serve some of this up. Is there a particular ramen brand you use? Congrats on top 9!!
I’ve used the regular stuff you find in the grocery store, and also a beef-flavored package from the Asian aisle as well. (I can’t remember brand names, unfortunately!)
I’ve never heard of Chinese coleslaw… I’m actually Chinese so this makes me wonder if it’s not one of those fortune cookie things where it’s actually American in origin. I do wonder though, what makes it Chinese? Is it just the ramen? Is that supposed to offensive?
It’s so hard to be PC these days. I don’t understand how anyone can call a recipe “offensive”. This slaw is delicious!
it’s only offensive if you take offense to it. it’s not MEANT to be derrogatory in any way shape or form!!! and it IS delicious!
Youre right Sherry, its not Chinese or Asian. it jsut showed up on the itnernet a couple of years ago, and everyone is swearing theyve enjoyed it since the 70’s. Ive been around since the 60’s, and i never heard of it in USA either until last year. the sodium alone is extrmely unhealthy, due to several reasons, i cannot chew this and i certainly dont need tankles from my HBP. =)
Someone at church always made this for church picnics and get-togethers. I remembered loving it. I can’t wait to make it for myself.
I am so, so, digging this! Awesome!
What a nice change for coleslaw, and colorful!!
Thanks for getting back with me. I think you are right and I actually thought that right after I wrote it…like duh… depends if I’m on low carb or what…. doi:D Now that control part (otherwise known as moderation)… hmmmmm what to do about that??? lol
Thanks for sharing!
This reminds me of family get togethers because my great aunt would always bring this!
This looks like the perfect summer salad! Something different – love it!
Yum! I bet this would also be fantastic with a dash of sesame oil or rice wine vinegar :)
love to see a twist on cole slaw and this looks great. great pics too.
that looks so delicious! i love the crunchy Ramen noodles in there too! yum!
I love this with a little chicken as well, but the REAL secret is to use PEANUT OIL instead of veg or corn oil. VERY tasty! I think a few drops of sesame oil (which is very strong) and maybe some fresh ginger would be yummy too. I’m going to make this today!!
Thanks for the tip on the peanut oil, Victoria! I’ll give that a try next time!
This coleslaw is my absolute favorite way to eat a head of cabbage! Mine is just a little different (with the use of sesame oil and tamari instead of vinegar), but I could totally eat a huge bowl of this for lunch. I have to control myself around the stuff :)
Not to be annoying, but my husband and I are on diets and this appears to be harmless… do you happen to know if it is good for dieting??
Hi Angela, To be honest, there are so many different kinds of diets nowadays that I really can’t say one way or the other whether this recipe would work for your particular diet. You can check to see if any of the ingredients are “no-no’s”, or plug it into a calorie calculator to see what the nutrition stats are. I generally feel that anything in moderation isn’t going to kill you, but I can’t give a definitive yes or no for anyone’s specific diet situation.
Ooooh – chinese coleslaw is one of my favs! Bookmarking this for picnics this summer! :)
I do a similar recipe that includes chicken (we have it as a main dish), but I love the addition of the almonds and the sunflowers seeds in yours! I’m going to have to try that next time.
I like the added crunch to this coleslaw from the ramen noodles and almonds. Looks yummy!
Is there a specific flavor of Ramen that you use for this? Looks yummy and unique!
One more question….. When you say crushed do you mean crumbs or just smaller pieces? Sorry for all of the questions!
Hi Rebecca, Just smaller pieces. I just take the package and crush it in my hands. You can see in the photos that there are little pieces, not crushed into crumbs, though.
Hi Rebecca, You can use anything you like – usually just the classic Ramen packets (chicken), but I’ve used beef, too.
Thanks so much! I can’t wait to make this for July 4th! :)
Since this is Chinese slaw, I think the Oriental flavor would be perfect. Really, though, any flavor will do.
This is delicious – even the kids like it! We use one bag of cole slaw and one bag of broccoli slaw. We brown the ramen noodles in the oven first. Just a different recipe. So Yummy!
THANKS!! Was looking for something unusual for July 4th. Just found it.
I love Chinese coleslaw, yet I don’t like American coleslaw! :) This looks wonderful!!
It is because of the mayo.
To avoid overly soft noodles I mix everything together EXCEPT the crushed noodles and the dressing. I toss it all together 30 minutes before serving. If the salad isn’t going to be eaten in one day then I mix smaller amounts of each.
I make something very similar here in Australia Michelle. http://www.changs.com/recipes/view-recipe?id=90e1d9544e2a624ad5a9838d57a3ca5b
Will definitely try yours though :)
I have a friend who adds cooked chicken to her Chinese coleslaw recipe, yummy ! Can’t wait to try yours
Whenever I think of ramen noodles, I’m reminded of that Allstate commercial about the girl on a Ramen Noodle budget.
From the looks of it, this recipe might be low budget, but I’m just as sure the taste isn’t. :)
Love all your creative additions!! Great summer recipe :)
I really like the idea of adding sunflower seeds and almonds to coleslaw. Yum, yum!