Alpha Gal Friendly Basil-Pesto Cabbage Slaw
Crunchy, colorful, and absolutely loaded with herby brightness, this slaw is the kind of side dish that steals the show at any table. The homemade pesto dressing is built entirely from plants — fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and a warm hint of ginger and turmeric — so there's nothing here that conflicts with avoiding mammalian meat byproducts. That matters more than it sounds, because store-bought dressings and even many pesto jars sneak in ingredients that can be surprisingly tricky to vet. Making the dressing from scratch in a blender takes only a couple of minutes and gives you total control over every single thing going into the bowl. The combination of green and red cabbage with julienned carrot keeps things crisp and vibrant, while that 10-minute rest lets the slaw soften just enough to soak up all that vivid green dressing. It's a genuinely satisfying dish that works as a cookout side, a taco topper, or a light lunch all on its own.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 4 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 cup red cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and julienned or coarsely grated
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
For the pesto dressing
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, and scallion greens in a large mixing bowl and toss to mix.
- 2
Add the basil leaves, garlic, lemon juice, salt, ground ginger, and ground turmeric to a food processor or blender. Pulse 5–6 times until the herbs and garlic are roughly chopped.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!