Paraben Free Basil-Pesto Cabbage Slaw
Crunchy, colorful, and loaded with herby brightness, this cabbage slaw is the kind of side dish that steals the show at any table. The dressing is a vibrant, blender-made pesto built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients — fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice — with a warm, slightly earthy lift from ground ginger and turmeric. For anyone navigating preservative sensitivities, store-bought dressings and pre-made slaws can be a minefield of additives and synthetic stabilizers, so making everything from scratch here is genuinely the move. Every single component in this recipe is a whole food you can trace back to its source, which is exactly what clean eating looks like in practice. The technique is simple: pulse, drizzle, toss, and wait ten minutes while the cabbage softens just enough to soak up all that gorgeous green dressing. That short rest period makes a real difference — you go from raw and sharp to tender and deeply flavored without losing any of the satisfying crunch. Serve it alongside grilled proteins, pile it into tacos, or eat it straight from the bowl — it holds up beautifully however you use it.
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!