This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. The “cole” part of the word ultimately derives from the Latin colis, meaning cabbage. The 1770 recipe book The Sensible Cook: Dutch Foodways in the Old cabbage coleslaw New World contains a recipe attributed to the author’s Dutch landlady, who mixed thin strips of cabbage with melted butter, vinegar, and oil.
The recipe for coleslaw as it is most commonly prepared is fairly young, as mayonnaise was invented during the mid-18th century. Coleslaw is generally eaten as a side dish with foods such as fried chicken and barbecued meats and may be accompanied by French fries or potato salad as another side dish. Traditional German Krautsalat consists of finely shredded cabbage marinated with oil and vinegar. Sometimes onions or apples are added. Various cabbage-based salads that resemble coleslaw are commonly served as a side dish with the second course at dinner, next to meat and potatoes. Any simple salad of that kind, i.
The English name “coleslaw” is mainly associated with the mayonnaise-dressed cabbage. In Russia and Ukraine, a salad of fresh shredded cabbage, mixed with carrots, apples, cranberries etc. A similar salad is also made of sauerkraut. In the United Kingdom, coleslaw often contains carrot and onion in addition to cabbage, and is often made with mayonnaise or salad cream. In the United States, coleslaw often contains buttermilk, mayonnaise or mayonnaise substitutes, and carrot, although many regional variations exist, and recipes incorporating prepared mustard or vinegar without the dairy and mayonnaise are also common.
Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary”. Coleslaw: You Could Be a Star”. New Flavours of the Jewish Table. Easier Than a Steamed Turnip: Simple and Delicious Meatless Russian Recipes. Russian Food Words at Home and Abroad”.