Creamy Vegan Cucumber Slaw

The best summer vegetable slaw

This creamy vegan cucumber slaw is full of crunchy and bright veggies and herbs! It is the perfect combo of textures and flavors. This summery side salad is perfect for picnics, cookouts, or even as a side for a spicy curry. I also like this one on a sandwich or burger. It has bright pops of flavor plus the great texture of a cabbage style slaw. This one is incredibly creamy with the addition of vegan yogurt and it is also oil-free! This is such a great summer salad, you may be tempted to eat it as a meal! No judgement from me, as I could devour this entire recipe myself on a hot day.

What is a slaw?

A slaw is a cold salad that consists of chopped raw vegetables mixed with a creamy mayo and vinegar dressing. It may have Dutch origins and originally was made with cabbage and carrots aka Cole slaw. It is no secret that I love a good slaw. I have developed dozens of incarnations of my own slaw style salad recipes. Cabbage is one of my favorite salad ingredients because it does not break down like lettuces. It is super hardy and perfect for make ahead salads and meal prep. I grew up eating Cole slaw in New England where I am from. We ate it with fish and chips and barbecue and I always loved it. This creamy vegan cucumber slaw is a fresh and herby take on the old classic.

Ingredients for Creamy Vegan Cucumber Slaw

The ingredients for this summery slaw are best during the warmer months when fresh produce is abundant. Spring and Summer are the best seasons for crunchy radishes, hydrating cucumbers, and sweet bell peppers. I am obsessed with garden fresh cherry tomatoes and this recipe is a great place to enjoy them. If you don't find purple cabbage, green will work just fine. Radishes have a little spicy bite to them. If you do not like radishes simply omit them. If you want to replace them with a similar crunchy texture, use thinly sliced apples or jicama.

• cucumbers
• red onion
• purple cabbage
• yellow bell pepper
• radishes
• cherry tomatoes
• lemon
• plain vegan yogurt
• salt
• black pepper
• cilantro
• dill
• maple syrup or sweetener of choice

How to Make Creamy Vegan Cucumber Slaw

This slaw salad is really easy to make. It is a no-cook recipe that can be ready in about 10-15 minutes depending on your chopping skills. I love a good chop, and recipes like this are best in summer when the thought of turning on the oven to cook seems like torture.

• In a large bowl add cabbage, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, radishes, tomatoes, cilantro and dill.
• Add yogurt, lemon, salt, pepper and pure maple syrup.
• Toss well until all is mixed and distributed throughout the slaw. Taste for salt and pepper and add more if desired.
• Eat as is or as a side or topper for sammies or tacos. It will last about  2-3 days when refrigerated properly.

Tips for making the best summer salads

• Firstly, always select the freshest produce for salads. Save the vegetables that are on their way out for soups or stir-fries. Nothing is worse than limp or witty salad ingredients. You want everything to have the fresh snap or crunch.
• Get creative! Most recipes are easily tweaked to accommodate which ingredients are available or which are your preferences. You can omit things you don't like or add something that is abundant in your garden without changing the flavors or essence of a dish.
• To be a salad master you need the right tools. I cannot stress enough how much a sharp knife matters or that using a quality peeler or cutting board makes all the difference in the world to your cooking. I am adding links to some of my favorite tools below. These are affiliate links, and I make a small commission when you use them Thanks for supporting my work.

More slaw style summer salads

• Power Slaw with peanut sauce
• Street Corn Slaw
• Creamy Tahini Lime Slaw