German Cabbage Coleslaw With Ham (Printable)

Smoky, tangy coleslaw with crisp cabbage, carrots, and smoked ham in classic German-style dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 cups green cabbage, finely shredded
02 - 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
03 - 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Meats

05 - 1 cup smoked ham, shredded

→ Dressing

06 - 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
07 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
08 - 1 tablespoon honey
09 - 1/3 cup sunflower oil or neutral oil
10 - 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, optional
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, and red onion.
02 - Add the shredded smoked ham to the bowl and toss to distribute evenly throughout the vegetables.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, sunflower oil, caraway seeds if using, salt, and pepper until well blended.
04 - Pour the dressing over the cabbage and ham mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure everything is well coated with the dressing.
05 - Let the coleslaw sit for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • It holds up for hours without wilting, so you can make it early and let the flavors bloom while you finish everything else.
  • The smoky ham and caraway seeds give it a depth most coleslaws can only dream about, turning a side dish into something you actually crave.
02 -
  • If you dress this too early, the cabbage can release water and dilute the dressing, so aim for 30 minutes to 2 hours before serving, not overnight.
  • Don't skip the resting time, the vinegar needs a few minutes to soften the raw onion and mellow the cabbage's sharpness.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline to shred the cabbage uniformly, it makes a huge difference in texture and how evenly the dressing coats.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it, and adjust the honey or vinegar to your preference, every batch of vinegar varies slightly in sharpness.
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