Coleslaw is a tasty dish that consists of finely shredded veggies, such as cabbage and carrots, that are coated in a dressing, which is normally mayonnaise.
If you want to make coleslaw but do not have any mayonnaise, you need to look for mayonnaise substitutes for coleslaw. I did the research, and here is what I found!
Mayonnaise Substitutes For Coleslaw
1. Sour Cream
Sour cream is a creamy, thick white sauce that tastes tart, and sour cream can replace mayonnaise for coleslaw in a pinch.
While sour cream may be tarter than mayonnaise, sour cream has an overall non-overwhelming flavor and sour cream’s color will easily make sour cream look like mayonnaise.
Moreover, there are several varieties of sour cream to suit different dietary needs, such as light sour cream, dairy-free sour cream, and fat-free sour cream.
You may want to mix a little lemon juice or water with the sour cream to make the sour cream a little thinner to cover your coleslaw veggies.
Additionally, you may opt to use vinegar to make your sour cream thinner, but you should be wary of adding too much vinegar because the mayonnaise can become too tart and sour.
2. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a very common substitute for mayonnaise in salad recipes, meaning Greek yogurt can easily be used instead of mayonnaise for coleslaw.
Generally, Greek yogurt has a much thicker texture than regular yogurt along with a mild flavor, which is why Greek yogurt can comfortably bind coleslaw ingredients without overwhelming the flavors.
Since Greek yogurt has higher fat content than regular yogurt, you may opt for light Greek yogurt or fat-free Greek yogurt depending on your dietary needs.
Keep in mind that Greek yogurt’s texture will also depend on the brand you get as some Greek yogurt brands can create thin or thick Greek yogurt.
3. Greek Yogurt, Apple Cider Vinegar, And Dijon Mustard
If Greek yogurt alone is not enough for you, you can spice up your coleslaw dressing by mixing Greek yogurt with apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard.
Using a mixture of Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard will make a thick, creamy dressing with slightly tart flavors that can complement coleslaw recipes well.
Whisk 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, ½ a cup of Greek yogurt, and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard in a small bowl until all the ingredients are incorporated.
If desired, you may opt to add a little honey, salt, and pepper to this dressing mix to add more flavor.
To use this dressing, pour the mixture over the coleslaw mix and stir well until all the coleslaw veggies are fully coated in the dressing.
4. Olive Oil And Dijon Mustard
If you just want a dressing to coat your coleslaw mix, a vinaigrette made of olive oil, Dijon mustard, and a few other ingredients can work nicely.
Whisk ⅓ of a cup of apple cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, ½ tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon of honey, and some black pepper to create the vinaigrette.
While this dressing will not mimic mayonnaise since there will be a different color, texture, and flavor, this dressing will be enough to coat and bind your coleslaw if you do not have any mayonnaise.
Moreover, it is important to add other ingredients to your olive oil mix, such as the ingredients listed earlier, to avoid creating a dull coleslaw dressing.
5. Aioli
Aioli is a sauce that is made from mashed garlic and olive oil, which results in a creamy, rich, and flavorful condiment.
Generally, aioli is made by mashing garlic with lemon juice using a mortar and pestle then slowly mashing olive oil into the mashed garlic mixture until the mixture becomes creamy and thick, creating a mixture similar to mayonnaise.
Some people call aioli “garlic mayonnaise” because aioli has a similar texture to mayonnaise since aioli is an emulsion as well. However, aioli does not contain eggs and aioli tastes noticeably like garlic.
Despite the difference in flavor and ingredients, aioli can make a fun replacement for coleslaw, especially if you like the taste of garlic.
6. Cream
Since cream has a similar appearance and texture to mayonnaise, a cream can sometimes substitute for mayonnaise in coleslaw.
If desired, you may opt to add a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice into your cream to make the cream taste tarter.
Moreover, you may want to add just enough cream to coat and bind the coleslaw, as adding too much cream may overwhelm the dish.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that the cream you choose is meant for cooking and is not sweet since many variants of cream are sweet for baking, desserts, etc.
You could use sweeter cream if that is the only cream you have, but you may need to balance the cream’s flavor by adding lemon, vinegar, pepper, etc.
7. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a yogurt-based sauce made from grated cucumber, thick yogurt, garlic, vinegar or lemon, fresh herbs, and occasionally olive oil.
Typically, tzatziki sauce is white with a thick and creamy texture, making tzatziki sauce look similar to mayonnaise, but tzatziki sauce may stand out due to the pops of green from the added herbs.
Generally, tzatziki sauce has a much stronger flavor than mayonnaise, but tzatziki sauce’s flavor and texture will still work well in coleslaw.
However, if you do not mind having a flavorful coleslaw, tzatziki sauce will be a perfect complement to a coleslaw recipe instead of mayonnaise.
Take a look at related articles to learn mayonnaise substitutes for egg salad, mayonnaise substitutes for tuna, and what mayonnaise Subway uses.
Conclusion
Coleslaw is a tasty vegetable dish that usually includes a dressing made of mayonnaise, but if you do not have any mayonnaise there are many mayonnaise substitutes you can use instead.
For instance, alternatives like tzatziki sauce, Greek yogurt, sour cream, cooking cream, and more can work well as a replacement for mayonnaise in a coleslaw recipe.