Creamy Deli Coleslaw
North-American deli classic: crisp cabbage & carrot ribbons in a tangy-sweet, celery-seed-flecked dressing. Built for a crowd, scales down effortlessly.
Ingredients: black pepper, carrots, celery seed, cider vinegar, Dijon, garlic-confit oil, green cabbage, heavy cream, kosher salt, mayonnaise, red cabbage, sugar
Dificulity level: Easy
Yield & Timing
| Makes | Prep Time | Rest Time* | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≈ 3 gal / 12 L slaw (48 x 8 oz portions) | 30 min | 30 min | 30 min |
Ingredient Line-Up
| Slaw Mix | Amount | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Green cabbage, finely shredded | 10 lb | 4.5 kg |
| Red cabbage, finely shredded | 2 lb | 900 g |
| Carrots, julienned or shredded | 1 lb | 450 g |
| Dressing | Amount | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Mayonnaise | 2 qt | 1.9 kg |
| Heavy cream | 3 cups | 710 mL |
| Granulated sugar | ¾ cup | 150 g |
| Cider vinegar | 1 cup | 240 mL |
| Garlic-confit oil | ½ cup | 120 mL |
| Dijon mustard | 2 Tbsp | 30 g |
| Kosher salt | ¼ cup | 36 g |
| Celery seed | 4 Tbsp | 24 g |
| Black pepper, fresh-ground | 1 Tbsp | 8 g |
Storage
- Fridge life: 4 days, tightly sealed and kept below 40 °F / 4 °C.
- Flavor note: The celery-seed aromatics bloom after a few hours—day-old slaw often tastes even better.
Dinner—handled, delicious, and ready whenever you are.
Scaling Cheatsheet
| Need less? | Veg | Dressing |
|---|---|---|
| 8 servings (2 lb veg) | 2 lb / 900 g | 2 cups |
| 12 servings (3 lb veg) | 3 lb / 1.35 kg | 3 cups |
| 24 servings (6 lb veg) | 6 lb / 2.7 kg | 6 cups |
(Follow the same mix, rest, and toss steps.)
Crisp, creamy, crowd-pleasing—exactly what a proper deli slaw should be.
Method
- Prep the veg Combine green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots in a 12-quart cambro or two large mixing bowls. Toss to distribute colors evenly.
- Whisk the dressing In a separate 4-quart bowl, whisk mayonnaise, heavy cream, cider vinegar, garlic-confit oil, and Dijon until smooth. Add sugar, salt, celery seed, and black pepper; whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- Dress & toss Pour 12 cups (all) of dressing over the cabbage mix—that’s the ideal 1 cup dressing : 1 lb veg ratio. With gloved hands or tongs, toss until every strand glistens.
- Rest & re-toss Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. The cabbage will relax and absorb dressing. Give one more toss, taste, and adjust seasoning (a splash more vinegar for tang, a pinch of salt for pop).
- Serve or store Transfer to service containers.