Artificial Food Coloring Free Basil-Pesto Broccoli Slaw
This vibrant slaw is a serious crowd-pleaser — crunchy broccoli, sweet dried cranberries, toasted coconut, and a punchy homemade basil pesto that comes together in under a minute in the food processor. Every single ingredient here is whole and real, which means no mystery dyes or synthetic colorants sneaking in through a bottled dressing or pre-made sauce. That's often the hidden trap with slaws: the store-bought versions can carry artificial colors in the dressing or even in the dried fruit, but this recipe keeps everything clean and straightforward. The pesto is made entirely from fresh basil, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and a touch of ginger, so that gorgeous bright green color is completely natural. Toasting the coconut in a dry skillet before tossing it in adds a nutty depth that makes the whole dish feel a little more special than your average side salad. A short rest before serving lets the broccoli soften just enough to soak up all that herby, citrusy dressing. It's the kind of recipe you'll want to bring to every potluck once you realize how easy it is to pull off.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 1 large head broccoli (about 1 lb), cut into florets and stems trimmed
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- 1
Toast the shredded coconut in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool.
- 2
Working in batches if needed, pulse the broccoli florets and stems in a food processor until broken down into small, rice-like pieces roughly the size of a pea — the texture should be coarse and shred-like, not pureed. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
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