Red Meat Allergy Friendly Pesto-Walnut Fennel Citrus Slaw
Bright, herby, and packed with citrus, this slaw is the kind of dish that makes people stop mid-bite and ask what's in it. Shaved fennel and shredded cabbage form the crisp base, while juicy orange and grapefruit segments bring a sweet-tart punch that cuts right through the richness of the walnut-basil pesto dressing. That dressing is the real star — blitzed together in a food processor until it's a rough, spoonable paste with real texture and depth, not the thin bottled stuff. Because every component here is plant-based and built around fresh produce, nuts, and olive oil, there's nothing to second-guess for anyone navigating a red meat allergy. No hidden broths, no meat-based add-ins, no cross-contamination worries from a deli counter. A short ten-minute rest after tossing lets the vegetables relax into the dressing and the flavors fully bloom, so patience pays off. Finish it with a scatter of pumpkin seeds for a little extra crunch and you've got a showstopper side that works just as well at a weeknight dinner as it does on a holiday table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto dressing
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the slaw
- 1 medium fennel bulb, fronds reserved
- 2 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 large navel orange, peeled and segmented
- 1 large grapefruit, peeled and segmented
- 2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds (optional)
- 2 tbsp fennel fronds, roughly chopped
Instructions
- 1
Make the pesto dressing: combine the basil, walnuts, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 8–10 pulses. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil and lemon juice and process until the mixture is a rough, spoonable paste — not completely smooth. Season with salt and pepper and pulse once more to combine. Transfer to a small bowl.
- 2
Trim the fennel bulb: cut off the stalks and reserve the fronds. Halve the bulb lengthwise, remove the tough core with a V-cut, then use a mandoline or a sharp knife to shave the fennel into very thin slices, about 1/8-inch thick.
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