The Healthful Ideas

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers
  • Dinner
  • Drinks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home > Recipes > Salads

    Cilantro Lime Slaw

    Published: Feb 17, 2023 · by Veronika Sykorova · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    228 shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 2 reviews
    Colorful cilantro lime slaw with purple cabbage in a blue bowl garnished with lime slices on a yellow plate.

    This Cilantro Lime Slaw is the perfect addition to tacos! Especially fish or seafood tacos. It's made with Greek yogurt, it's tangy, crunchy, and flavorful. It comes together in just 10 minutes and you only need 8 ingredients!

    Colorful cilantro lime slaw with purple cabbage in a blue bowl garnished with lime slices on a yellow plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • How to Serve It
    • FAQs
    • More Simple Salads
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why This Recipe Works

    Ready in 10 minutes - This slaw calls for only 8 simple ingredients and it's incredibly easy to put togehter. It's the perfect fresh side to whip up in just a few minutes.

    Simple and delicious - The creamy dressing is made with Greek yogurt which makes it healthier and lighter than classic coleslaw and the addition of lime juice and cilantro gives the slaw lots of flavor.

    Great in tacos - This slaw is perfect for fish tacos or shrimp tacos. Try it in Baja fish tacos, crispy shrimp tacos, or any other tacos!

    Colorful cilantro lime slaw with purple cabbage in a blue bowl garnished with lime slices on a yellow plate.

    Ingredients

    • Coleslaw mix - You can use premade bagged coleslaw mix or you can make your own by shredding green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.
    • Purple cabbage - This is totally optional but I like to add extra purple cabbage to the slaw to make it more colorful.
    • Cilantro - Fresh cilantro is ideal but if you don't like cilantro, fresh parsley will work too. Dried cilantro won't give this salad nearly enough flavor, fresh is the best here.
    • Lime - Freshly squeezed lime juice is always preferred because it provides the best flavor. If you're out of limes, you can use lemon juice though it will taste slightly different.
    • Greek yogurt - I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise in this recipe to make the slaw lighter and a little healthier. You can use whichever one of those you prefer and have on hand or a combination. Use vegan yogurt to keep this slaw dairy-free.
    • Honey - This one is optional. It adds a little sweetness and balances the tang of the yogurt.
    Cilantro, coleslaw mix, greek yogurt, and other ingredients laid out on a grey background.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    First, you'll mix together the dressing for the slaw.

    In a medium bowl, mix together Greek yogurt, lime zest, freshly squeezed lime juice, honey (optional), ground cumin (also optional), sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Creamy dressing for slaw in a small glass bowl.

    In a large bowl, mix together coleslaw mix and chopped fresh cilantro. I also like to add a little more shredded red cabbage for brighter color but this is optional. If you don't have or don't want to use coleslaw mix, you can shred equal parts of green and red cabbage and a carrot.

    Colorful coleslaw mix and chopped fresh cilantro in a large glass bowl.

    Add the yogurt dressing to the cabbage and cilantro mix and toss together to coat well.

    You can serve the slaw immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat!

    Coleslaw mix and cilantro before and after mixing with creamy dressing.

    How to Serve It

    • In tacos! Especially fish or seafood tacos. Try it in these Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce! The original recipe calls for adding the cilantro sauce to the coleslaw mix but you can skip that and just add this cilantro lime slaw instead as an easier option.
    • Instead of coleslaw as a lighter version
    • As a side salad

    FAQs

    Can the slaw be made in advance?

    Yes, you can store the slaw in an airtight container for 1-2 days. That being said, it tastes the best right after you make it while the cabbage is still crunchy and everything is fresh.

    Can I make this recipe vegan?

    Yes! Just skip the honey or add maple syrup and swap the Greek yogurt for vegan yogurt or vegan mayonnaise.

    Colorful cilantro lime slaw with purple cabbage in a blue bowl garnished with lime slices on a yellow plate.

    More Simple Salads

    Sometimes all you want is a simple side salad to serve with your meals. The three below are my favorites to serve as a side or added to tacos. They're simple, easy to make, and flavorful! Head over to the Salads category to see all the latest salads.

    • Creamy Cilantro Avocado Slaw from this Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce (similar to this slaw but with creamy avocado dressing)
    • Cucumber Radish Salad with Fresh Herbs
    • Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Avocado Dressing (the same creamy dressing as the one used in the tacos above)
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Colorful cilantro lime slaw with purple cabbage in a blue bowl garnished with lime slices on a yellow plate.

    Cilantro Lime Slaw

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
    • Author: Veronika | thehealthfulideas
    • Prep Time: 15 mins
    • Cook Time: 0 mins
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4-6 1x
    • Category: Side
    • Method: No-cook
    • Cuisine: Mexican
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    This Cilantro Lime Slaw is the perfect addition to any tacos or a delicious side. It's crunchy, tangy, and flavorful. Ready in 10 mins!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 bag coleslaw mix (14 oz/400g or approx 6 cups)
    • ¼ red cabbage, shredded (optional, for more color)
    • 1 cup packed fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
    • 1 cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 tsp lime zest
    • ¼ cup lime juice
    • 1 tsp honey (optional)
    • ¼ tsp ground cumin (optional)
    • ½ tsp sea salt
    • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Add coleslaw mix, shredded red cabbage (if using), and chopped cilantro into a large bowl. Toss together to mix.
    2. In a smaller bowl, mix together Greek yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, honey, cumin, sea salt, and black pepper.
    3. Pour the mixture over the salad and toss together to coat well.
    4. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    I find using a premade coleslaw mix the easiest but you can also make your own by shredding green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.

    The longer the cabbage sits in the yogurt lime dressing, the softer it will get. It’s best served right away but it should still remain crunchy and tasty for the first 1-2 days of storing.

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Comment and rate the recipe below and tag @thehealthfulideas on Instagram with the hashtag #thehealthfulideas, I'd love to see what you made!

    More Salads

    • A large bowl with arugula spinach salad sprinkled with grated parmesan and toasted pine nuts with two lemon wedges on the left.
      Arugula and Spinach Salad
    • Colorful creamy pasta salad with diced veggies and two lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork on the right side.
      Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
    • Caesar pasta salad with sourdough croutons in a low bowl garnished with two lemon wedges with a fork.
      Caesar Pasta Salad
    • A bowl on blueberry salad with mixed greens, radishes, toasted almonds, and shallots.
      Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad
    228 shares

    Comments

    1. Daniella says

      April 01, 2023 at 11:17 am

      This slaw was so good! So perfect for tacos and when you make it with premade coleslaw mix, it's so quick and easy too. Definitely becoming a staple in our house.

      Reply
    2. Carol says

      August 30, 2023 at 6:38 pm

      Easy to make! Delicious. Had it to complement fish tacos. Will definitely make it again.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    A photo of a young woman in a white and red striped shirt with a white backround.

    Welcome!

    I'm Veronika and The Healthful Ideas where I share original plant-based recipes for every day cooking and popular classics with a healthy twist.

    More about me

    Latest Recipes

    • A large bowl with arugula spinach salad sprinkled with grated parmesan and toasted pine nuts with two lemon wedges on the left.
      Arugula and Spinach Salad
    • Creamy zucchini soup topped with sourdough croutons and chopped fresh parsley in a white bowl with a spoon in the soup on the right.
      Vegan Zucchini Soup
    • Creamy zucchini risotto garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork.
      Zucchini Risotto
    • Colorful creamy pasta salad with diced veggies and two lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork on the right side.
      Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad

    A photo of a young woman in a white and red striped shirt with a white backround.

    Welcome!

    I'm Veronika and The Healthful Ideas where I share original plant-based recipes for every day cooking and popular classics with a healthy twist.

    More about me

    Latest Recipes

    • A large bowl with arugula spinach salad sprinkled with grated parmesan and toasted pine nuts with two lemon wedges on the left.
      Arugula and Spinach Salad
    • Creamy zucchini soup topped with sourdough croutons and chopped fresh parsley in a white bowl with a spoon in the soup on the right.
      Vegan Zucchini Soup
    • Creamy zucchini risotto garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork.
      Zucchini Risotto
    • Colorful creamy pasta salad with diced veggies and two lemon wedges in a low bowl with a beige rim and with a fork on the right side.
      Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad

    Footer

    • Latest recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Free Appetizers E-book
    • About
    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclaimer

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme

    228 shares
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Flipboard
    • Email
    • SMS
    • Bluesky