Mediterranean Apple Cranberry Coleslaw 🍎🥗

A crisp, colorful salad packed with fresh cabbage, sweet apples, tart cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and a light Mediterranean-style dressing made with olive oil and yogurt. It’s refreshing, slightly sweet, and perfect as a side dish or light meal.

🍏 Description

This Apple Cranberry Coleslaw is not your typical heavy mayo-based slaw. Instead, it uses a lighter Mediterranean-inspired dressing with olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and a touch of honey.

The combination of:

Crunchy cabbage
Juicy apples
Tart dried cranberries
Toasted walnuts
Fresh herbs

creates a balanced, nutrient-rich salad that works beautifully alongside grilled meats, fish, or as part of a healthy lunch.

🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6)

For the Salad:

4 cups 3-color coleslaw mix (green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot)
1 large apple, chopped (leave peel on)
½ cup dried cranberries (unsweetened preferred)
⅓ cup chopped walnuts (lightly toasted)
2 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

For the Mediterranean Dressing:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt & black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Salad Base

In a large bowl, combine coleslaw mix, chopped apple, cranberries, walnuts, green onions, and parsley.

2️⃣ Make the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

3️⃣ Toss

Pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated.

4️⃣ Chill

Refrigerate for at least 20–30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Serve alongside grilled chicken or salmon
Add crumbled feta for extra Mediterranean flavor
Use as a sandwich or wrap filling
Pair with lentil soup for a balanced meal

🥗 Nutrition Highlights (Approx. per serving)

High in fiber
Rich in antioxidants (cranberries & cabbage)
Heart-healthy fats from olive oil & walnuts
Lower in saturated fat than traditional coleslaw
Naturally sweet with minimal added sugar

❓ Q & A

Q1: Can I make this dairy-free?

Yes! Replace Greek yogurt with dairy-free yogurt or use only olive oil and lemon juice.

Q2: How long does it last?

Up to 3 days refrigerated. It may soften slightly but remains flavorful.

Q3: Can I use fresh cranberries?

Yes, but chop them finely and add a bit more honey to balance tartness.

Q4: Can I make it sugar-free?

Absolutely. Skip honey and use unsweetened cranberries.

Q5: What apples work best?

Crisp varieties like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala hold their texture well.