Hawaiian Coleslaw – Sweet & Savory
This Hawaiian coleslaw is crunchy, savory, and sweet because it’s made with fresh cabbage and pineapple. The pineapple coleslaw recipe has a tasty sesame ginger dressing and the perfect topping for Kalua pulled pork sandwiches.
You’ll love serving this easy Hawaiian slaw recipe at your next backyard cookout, especially if you’re looking for luau-themed side dishes.
What You’ll Need
- Green cabbage.
- Purple cabbage AKA red cabbage
- Pineapple. Use fresh pineapple or canned pineapple tidbits, drained well.
- Green onions, green part only finely sliced.
- Cilantro leaves, finely minced.
Hawaiian Coleslaw Dressing
- Mayonnaise kewpie mayonnaise, if you have it.
- Rice wine vinegar. You can use apple cider vinegar as a substitute.
- Ginger. Fresh or pre-minced is fine.
- Garlic. Fresh or pre-minced is fine.
- Toasted Sesame oil
Optional add-ins
- Red bell pepper – to add sweetness.
- Serrano pepper – to add spiciness.
How To Make Hawaiian Slaw
This is such an easy recipe. You can mix up a batch in less than 10 minutes.
- Shred the cabbage using a sharp knife or mandoline. Add the shredded cabbage to a large bowl.
- Dice the pineapple into small pieces. Feel free to use canned pineapple chunks if you don’t have a fresh one. See notes.
- Slice the green onions, green parts only.
- Remove the tender leaves from the stems of the cilantro and mince them finely.
Make The Coleslaw Dressing
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
Assemble The Salad
- Combine the coleslaw mix with the coleslaw dressing and toss to combine.
Store the salad covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kewpie mayo is the Japanese version of mayo. It has a rich umami flavor, much richer than traditional American mayonnaise. Kewpie mayo is made using only egg yolks. American mayonnaise is made using whole eggs. By using only yolks, the kewpie mayo has a much richer flavor.
Yes, you can use canned pineapple if fresh pineapple is out of season. Make sure to use pineapple chunks of rings packed in juice, not syrup.
Drain the pineapple very well. You can press the pineapple gently in a colander to remove as much liquid as possible.
More Hawaiian Recipes and Hawaiian Sides
If you’re planning a Hawaiian-style cookout, here are a few recipes you will want to try.
More Coleslaw Recipes
Crunchy coleslaw adds flavor and texture to your favorite meat recipe. Give one of our tasty coleslaw recipes when you need a fresh and crunchy side salad.
- Asain coleslaw with peanut dressing.
- Southern coleslaw is sweet and tangy.
- Taco slaw is perfect for fish tacos or carne asada tacos.
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Hawaiian Coleslaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup green cabbage, shredded, about ¼ head of cabbage
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded, about ¼ head of cabbage
- ½ cup pineapple, cut into small chunks
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely minced
Hawaiian Coleslaw Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, kewpie mayonniase, if you have it
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 to 2 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
Optional add-ins
- 2 to 3 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely diced, to add sweetness
- 1 serrano pepper, finely diced, to add spiciness
Instructions
- Shred the cabbage using a sharp knife or mandoline.1 cup green cabbage, 1 cup red cabbage
- Dice the pineapple.½ cup pineapple
- Slice the green onions, green parts only.2 tablespoons green onions
- Remove the tender leaves from the stems of the cilantro and mince them finely.2 tablespoons cilantro
Make The Coleslaw Dressing
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Whisk with a fork to combine.
Assemble The Salad
- Combine the cabbage mixture with the coleslaw dressing and toss to combine.
Laura’s Tips + Notes
- Kewpie Mayonnaise– order on Amazon if you can’t find it locally.
- Canned pineapple – To use canned pineapple in this recipe, used pineapple chunks packed in juice, not syrup. Drain well before adding the chunks to the slaw.
- Garlic and ginger – prepared garlic and ginger can be found in the produce sections. These are both great ingredients to keep on hand.
