Fruity Mango Slaw

A white bowl filled with colourful mango slaw on a white background surrounded by mangos, limes, and cilantro.

This tropical Fruity Mango Slaw features juicy ripe mangoes, crunchy cabbage, and vibrant bell peppers in a fruity mango cilantro lime dressing. It’s a refreshing and flavourful twist on the classic coleslaw that brings a taste of the tropics to any meal.

Whether you’re looking for a healthy side dish or a tasty topping for Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Fish Tacos, or burgers, this easy-to-make coleslaw is sure to become one of your go-to recipes.

A white bowl filled with colourful mango slaw.

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Fruity Mango Slaw

Friends, this cabbage mango slaw isn’t your grandmother’s coleslaw. The usual green cabbage is there but that’s where the similarities end. With matchstick bell peppers, crunchy celery, and strips of juicy mango, it’s more like a chopped-salad-meets-slaw situation.

I’ve messed with coleslaw salad recipes before. Thisย Tropical Pineapple Coconut Coleslaw contains pineapple and cilantro in a dairy-free creamy coconut lime dressing. It’s such a family favourite that I had to create a mango version. Now I have two vegan recipes for coleslaw, and no one would ever know the difference.

Some people say that you can’t or shouldn’t mess with a classic, but this is a delightful salad packed with tropical mango flavour. There are two whole mangos in this recipe, which includes the vegan dressing.

The sweet and sour flavours in this mango slaw go so well with any kind of barbecue but where it really shines is on shrimp tacos or fish tacos.

A white bowl filled with colourful mango slaw on a white background surrounded by mangos.

What is Coleslaw?

Google ‘coleslaw’. What you’ll most likely see is photos and recipes for a classic creamy cabbage salad with a few vinegar-dressed versions thrown in the mix. Most slaw recipes contain shredded green cabbage (or a mixture of green and red cabbage), carrot matchsticks, and sometimes even grated apple.

Coleslaw, or ‘slaw’ for short, is a category of salads that contain shredded vegetables and sometimes fruit. This popular summer barbecue side can have either a creamy dressing or vinaigrette, but it always contains some variety of cabbage.

Ingredients required to make mango slaw including the mango dressing.

Mango Slaw Ingredients

This inclusive slaw recipe contains fresh shredded vegetables and mangoes. It is dairy free and gluten free so that everyone at the barbecue can enjoy the fresh flavours. You can buy a small cabbage and shred it yourself or save time and use a 16 oz bag of pre-shredded cabbage. PRO TIP: Buy matchstick carrots too!

  • Green Cabbage
  • Red Onion
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Cilantro
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Mango
  • Lime
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Canola Oil
  • Honey
  • Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Red Chili Flakes
A rainbow of sliced coleslaw vegetables and mango on a cutting board.

Use any combination of vegetables you like. The red onion, celery, red bell pepper, and carrots are only suggestions for a tasty and visually pleasing salad. Feel free to use green onions instead of red onions, or any colour of bell pepper in place of the red pepper. The only ingredients you can’t replace are the shredded cabbage andย mango!

To keep this salad at its tastiest, only use fresh lime juice, fresh garlic (not powder) and fresh ginger root in the dressing.

Coleslaw ingredients in a glass mixing bowl before being mixed.

Feel free to replace the canola oil with your favourite salad oil and use either maple syrup or agave in place of the honey (for an entirely vegan version). Apple cider vinegar is a suitable replacement for the rice wine vinegar.

Our family loves a bit of heat in the dressing, so I add red chili flakes. They are entirely optional.

How to Choose the Best Mango

Let’s face it, choosing the right mango can be a bit tricky. Here are a few handy tips to help you select the ripest and most flavourful mangoes for this recipe.

Mixed coleslaw ingredients in a glass mixing bowl.
  1. Check for colour: The first thing to look for when selecting a mango is its colour. A ripe mango will have bright and vibrant hues of yellow, orange, or red on its skin (depending on the variety). Avoid mangoes with green patches as they are not yet fully ripened.
  2. Smell it: Give your potential purchase a good sniff around the stem area โ€“ if it smells sweet and fragrant then itโ€™s ready to eat!
  3. Press gently: Another way to tell if a mango is ripe is by giving it a gentle squeeze with your fingers – if it’s slightly soft but still firm, then it’s ready! Be careful not to press too hard as this can damage the fruit.
  4. Look at texture: The texture of the skin should also be taken into consideration when picking out your perfect piece of fruit. Mangoes with smooth skin indicate freshness while wrinkled or dry skin suggests overripe fruit.
  5. If a mango has sticky syrup leaking out the stem end, chances are you’ve got a good one!
Mango salad dressing being poured over a bowl of shredded coleslaw mix.

How to Make Mango Slaw

The first step for making this mouth-watering Mango Slaw is preparing the vegetables and mango.

The easiest way to cut the cabbage is with the straight edge blade on a mandoline. Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core before running it through the mandoline. Then use the mandoline to slice the celery, carrots, and red onion. Then, cut the sliced carrots into matchsticks.

If you aren’t comfortable using a mandoline, use a food processor or a sharp knife with a cutting board. NOTE: If you are prepping the vegetables by hand, the prep time of this recipe will increase.

A white spoon holds a scoop of colourful mango slaw.

Once all the vegetables are shredded, place them in a large bowl and set in the refrigerator while you make the mango dressing.

How to Make Mango Dressing

To make the mango dressing place the diced mango, fresh lime juice, garlic, ginger, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar, crushed red chilies (if using) to the pitcher of a high-speed blender. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then blend the ingredients together until smooth.

A white bowl filled with colourful mango slaw.

Next, with the blender running on low speed, slowly drizzle the canola oil through the top hole of the blender. Allow it to emulsify into the mango mixture. There should be just under one cup of mango dressing when you are finished.

Test the flavour of the dressing and adjust seasoning with honey or rice wine vinegar, if needed. Since the sweetness and size of mangos vary, you may need to adjust the sweetness or vinegar level accordingly. If the mango is sweet, you’ll need less honey, more vinegar and if it a sour mango you will need more honey, less vinegar.

Finally, pour the dressing into the mixed mango slaw ingredients and mix well. Serve immediately.

Close up photo of shredded cabbage, sliced bell pepper, red onions, and mango dressed in mango dressing with cilantro garnish.

Make Ahead and Leftovers

Mango slaw is best if eaten within an hour of being dressed. If you plan on eating only some of the slaw in one sitting, I recommend only dressing a portion of the salad.

To make ahead of time, keep the mango separate from the other vegetables until right before dressing the slaw.ย The mango will release moisture as it sits, which will cause the cabbage to become soggy. Undressed slaw can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours with the mango and up to three days without the mango.

The dressing recipe will yield slightly less than one cup. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container or jar for up to five days.

Pinterest image featuring a rainbow of sliced coleslaw ingredients and a bowl of creamy mango slaw.

Hi! Iโ€™m Bernice Hill and Iโ€™ve been the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish โ€˜nโ€™ the Kitchen for the past eleven years. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

If you make this Fruity Mango Slaw recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section or in the ratings. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please share your photos and tag me on Instagram. I hope you like this recipe!

Yield: 8 servings

Fruity Mango Slaw

A white spoon holds a scoop of colourful mango slaw.

This tropical Fruity Mango Slaw features sweet juicy mangoes, crunchy cabbage, and veggies in a creamy cilantro lime mango dressing. It's a refreshing and flavourful twist on the classic coleslaw that brings a taste of the tropics to any meal.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 small green cabbage; shredded (around 7 cups)
  • 1 1/2 mangos; peeled and thinly sliced into 1 ยฝโ€ long strips (around 2 ยผ cups)
  • 2 medium carrots; thinly sliced into 1 ยฝโ€ long strips
  • 3 celery stalks; thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper; thinly sliced into 1 ยฝโ€ long strips
  • ยผ large red onion; thinly sliced
  • โ…“ cup cilantro; finely chopped

FOR THE MANGO DRESSING

  • ยฝ large mango; peeled and cut into chunks (around ยพ cup)
  • ยผ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (around 2 large limes)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger root
  • ยผ teaspoon canola oil
  • 1-2 Tablespoons honey (vegan option: use maple syrup or agave)
  • ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1-2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • ยผ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ยผ teaspoon crushed red chilies (optional but highly recommended)

Instructions

  1. Place all the coleslaw ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix together well. Set bowl in the refrigerator while you make the dressing.
  2. Add diced mango, garlic, ginger, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar, crushed red chilies (if using) and salt and pepper to the pitcher of a high speed blender. Blend ingredients together until smooth.
  3. With the blender running on low speed, slowly drizzle the canola oil through the top hole of the blender. Allow it to emulsify into the mango mixture.
  4. Test the dressing and adjust seasoning with honey or rice wine vinegar. The sweetness and size of mangos
    will vary. Therefore, you may need to adjust the sweetness or vinegar level of the dressing accordingly. If the mango is sweet you'll need less honey, more vinegar and if it a sour mango you will need more honey, less vinegar.
  5. Pour the dressing into the mixed mango slaw ingredients and mix well. Serve immediately.

Notes

    NOTE: Mango slaw is best if eaten within an hour of being dressed. If you plan on eating only some of the slaw in one sitting, I recommend only dressing a portion of the salad.

    If possible, keep the mango separate from the other vegetables until right before dressing the slaw.ย The mango will release moisture as it sits, which will cause the cabbage to become soggy. Undressed slaw can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours with the mango and up to three days without the mango.

    The dressing recipe will yield slightly less than one cup. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container or jar for up to five days.














Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 90Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.

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28 comments

  1. Dee

    This slaw was so good and refreshing. I made to put on fish tacos and everyone loved it.

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Fish taco perfection! Thank you for giving this slaw recipe a try Dee.

  2. Moop Brown

    This slaw looks super refreshing, colorful and vibrant. Seems very versatile and like something that would go well with a variety of dishes.

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      It sure does. It’s a very versatile side salad! thanks for stopping by Moop.

  3. Hayley Dhanecha

    We love Mango anything and this fruity mango slaw is perfect for summer! We loved it, none left in the bowl. Can’t wait to make it again today ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      It’s mango season right now and I can’t get enough! I put it in everything. Glad to meet another mango lover, Hayley!

  4. Dennis

    What a perfectly delicious slaw! I really enjoyed the mango dressing!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      So glad you enjoyed this salad and dressing Dennis. I find that people don’t miss the mayo at all!

  5. Amy

    So so yummy! I served this tasty slaw with shrimp tacos and my guests were asking for the recipe. Thanks for making me a star of the dinner party!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      It’s always a great sign if people ask for the recipe Amy. Thank you for letting me know!

  6. sophie

    This slaw was incredibly refreshing and bursting with vibrant flavors.

    The combination of crisp cabbage, sweet mango, and tangy lime dressing created a perfect balance of taste and textures.

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Aww thank you so much for your feedback Sophie. I’m glad you liked this slaw.

  7. Elaine

    The PERFECT slaw to make when it’s hot. It’s easy, it’s delicious and it’s healthy. What else to wish for your family and loved ones, right? Yum!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      The only other thing I would wish for is tacos to serve it on and maybe a mango margarita to wash it all down!

  8. Tammy

    I love coleslaw so I will definitely be making this. I love the sound of that dressing..a perfect summer twist to this salad!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      It’s so full of summery mango flavour! I hope you like it as much as we do Tammy.

  9. Lauren Michael Harris

    Made this mango slaw to use on shrimp tacos. It was so good and paired perfectly with the shrimp. We will definitely be trying it on other recipes too!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Oh wow, I wish I had been there to share in this delicious meal with you. Thanks for making my recipe Lauren.

  10. Gloria

    Bbq parties are starting. I am always on the look for new salads. This would be great for brunch too.

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Oooh yes, great idea! I bet it would be awesome for brunch.

  11. Sangeetha

    I’m absolutely in love with the idea of a Fruity Mango Slaw! The combination of juicy mangoes, crunchy cabbage, and vibrant bell peppers sounds like a refreshing and colorful mix of flavors and textures. The fruity mango cilantro lime dressing adds a tropical twist that takes this slaw to a whole new level. I can already imagine how well it would complement various dishes and bring a burst of freshness to any meal.

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Wow, thank you so much Sangeetha. Yes, it’s true… I’m a mangoholic lol and I think it goes in everything! Especially this salad.

  12. Marie-Pierre Breton

    This mango salad will often be present at our BBQs this summer! Looks fabulous!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      So great to hear! Plus, there’s no mayonnaise or cream so it can stay out a bit longer than those classic versions.

  13. Colleen

    I made fish tacos just so that we could have them with this amazing mango slaw. We loved it. I know I’ll be making this all spring and summer. Thanks for sharing this fresh and delicious recipe!

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      Oh man, I’m so glad you tried this mango slaw with fish tacos. It’s the perfect pairing.

  14. sonya

    I love this flavour combo! Such a great side for warm weather meals! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

    1. Bernice Hill

      You bet! It’s a nice coleslaw upgrade and is the perfect side for summer bbqs.

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