Vegetarian Cilantro-Lime Zucchini Herb Slaw
This vibrant, herb-forward slaw is the kind of side dish that makes everything on the table look a little more exciting. Shredded zucchini forms the base alongside crisp red cabbage, and a generous handful of fresh cilantro and mint gives it that bright, garden-fresh character you just can't fake with dried herbs. The dressing is where things really sing — fresh lime juice and zest, a touch of raw honey, and warm spices like cumin and turmeric come together into something tangy, slightly sweet, and deeply aromatic. The trick of salting and squeezing the zucchini before dressing it keeps everything from turning watery, so you get clean, snappy texture in every bite. A scatter of pumpkin seeds on top adds a satisfying crunch without weighing the whole thing down. It works beautifully as a taco topper, a cookout side, or honestly just eaten straight from the bowl with a fork.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 2 medium zucchini (about 1 lb total), trimmed
- 2 cups red cabbage, very thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
- 3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely minced (optional)
For the dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tsp raw honey
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- 2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Using the large holes of a box grater or a julienne peeler, shred the zucchini into long strands into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, toss briefly, and let stand for 10 minutes, then squeeze the zucchini firmly in your hands or in a clean kitchen towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Return the squeezed zucchini to the bowl.
- 2
Add the red cabbage, cilantro, mint, scallion greens, and jalapeño, if using, to the bowl with the zucchini and toss to combine.
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