Cumin and Lime Coleslaw (Cuban Style)

This cumin and lime coleslaw is a fresh and flavorful Cuban coleslaw recipe that doesn't taste heavy and makes a great topping for tacos, rice bowls, or served on its own.

Why you'll love this Cuban-style coleslaw

• This coleslaw recipe is different from the traditional heavy coleslaw recipes in that it is light and has fresh flavors and in my opinion, just a better type of coleslaw recipe than what most people make.
• This cumin lime and cilantro coleslaw is really easy to make!
• The coleslaw pairs so well with so many dishes.

If you are not a fan of cumin, you should still try out this recipe. Because of the citrus and shallots in the recipe, the flavors really come together nicely and you don't really detect the cumin on its own.

You will also notice that many of my other recipes have cumin in them like my coconut curry soup or my amazing fajitas from leftovers.

If you are looking for an easy coleslaw recipe that is a keeper and is a different type of coleslaw recipe than what you are used to, this is it! The addition of cilantro, lime, and cumin makes it a perfect fresh coleslaw to add to your meals.

I am not a huge fan of coleslaw which is why I made this recipe. With lots of trial and error, I made my perfect coleslaw and I think you will love it too.

The ingredients

There are only a few ingredients you will need for this Cuban coleslaw recipe. You will also want to allow a little time (30 minutes is fine) for this coleslaw to sit and allow the flavors to come together.

• Shredded cabbage: I love buying the pre-shredded cabbage to save time.)
• Shallot: This adds a wonderful light crunch and flavor to the slaw.
• Cumin: The star flavor! Earthy and the perfect addition to coleslaw.
• Lime: The lime lightens up the mayonnaise.
• Kosher salt: Wakes up the flavors and helps to soften the cabbage.
• Pepper: For a little extra flavor.
• Mayonnaise: This is the creamy component of the coleslaw.
• Sour cream: This adds a bit of tangy flavor and creaminess.

Variations

This easy coleslaw uses a little mayonnaise and sour cream but it is totally customizable and you can use healthier ingredients based on your preference. It will still taste great!

To make this cumin lime coleslaw lighter I like to add Greek yogurt which makes it a healthier coleslaw. I do this with my apple cranberry coleslaw too. You can also substitute vegan ingredients if you choose.

I wouldn't use fat-free mayonnaise though since it would lose too much flavor.

What to serve with this Cuban coleslaw

As I mentioned above, this light and fresh Cuban coleslaw recipe is a different coleslaw than what you grew up with. Because of this, I think it goes so well with so many dishes. We love using this as a pulled pork side dish!

My other favorite way of serving this cilantro lime slaw is with my Cuban-style black beans and some fluffy basmati rice. I have a whole post on how to cook basmati rice so that it is perfectly fluffy.

This fresh coleslaw also goes well with my blackened tuna tacos or as an addition to rice bowls like my pulled pork rice bowl.

Tips

Can I make this coleslaw ahead of time?

Yes. Coleslaw, even this lighter version does require a little time to sit and let the flavors come together. I recommend not making it more than 1 hour ahead of time to retain that beautiful crunch from the cabbage.

The longer it sits, the softer the cabbage becomes.

If I do not have lime can I substitute lemon in this coleslaw recipe?

Yes, the lemon will add the needed fresh citrus note. If possible try to use lime but if you do not have that on hand lemon will work too.

Can I make this coleslaw recipe without any mayonnaise?

You can but I do recommend having some fat in the recipe for flavor which the mayonnaise adds. If you do choose to leave out the mayonnaise in this recipe to make it healthier, try to substitute it with something that has some richness.