Starring the sputnik of the vegetable kingdom.
So you’ve got this strange sputnik-type vegetable in your veg box. A kohlrabi, it’s called, you find out after asking the Twittersphere. Ok, that was me.
I’d never seen a kohlrabi until one appeared in my veg box a few years ago and I really did snap a photo and ask twitter what it was. I’ve never seen such a vegetable available in the supermarket, and there aren’t very many blogger recipes out there at all that feature the weird and wonderful vegetable.
A kohlrabi is a member of the brassica family; a cousin to the cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprout. It tastes a cross between a broccoli stem and cabbage and it’s a popular vegetable eaten in German-speaking countries.
But what can you do with it? I hear you ask!
I’ve juiced it, paired it with apple in a salad and hung it from the ceiling with fishing line against a space wallpaper backdrop (true story – it made a heck of a thump when it eventually fell down and hit the floor!) and in a moment of inspiration a few weeks ago, turned it into this quick and easy 5-minute kohlrabi coleslaw for an impromptu garden barbecue.
With a mandolin slicer you can whip up this really tasty, crunchy, fresh and vibrant coleslaw in no time, but for all that is good and holy make sure you protect your fingertips! Just ask my husband about his A&E visit(s)!
I find that many coleslaws just act as a vessel for transporting mayonnaise from the jar to the mouth, but this recipe has just a tiny amount of dressing, allowing the vegetables to shine through. If you’ve got a craving for fresh veg, this is a great recipe, trust me, and the crunch really adds a satisfying texture to the dish.
My friend Choclette over at Tin & Thyme also makes a rather delicious kohlrabi and carrot slaw with a hint of lime and a light dressing of mustardy mayo.
Do you have any favourite recipes featuring kohlrabi? Let me know in the comments!
Quick & Easy 5-Minute Kohlrabi Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 0.5 tsp celery seed
- 1 pinch sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 medium kohlrabi peeled
- 1 medium carrot peeled
- 100 grams green cabbage
- 25 grams raisins (optional)
- 1 celery stick thinly sliced
Instructions
- Mix the mayonnaise, rapeseed oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, pepper and celery seed in a small bowl and whisk until combined.
- Using a mandolin slicer or food processor, julienne the peeled kohlrabi and carrot and add to the bowl with the dressing.
- Finely shred the cabbage and add to the bowl along with the raisins and celery. Stir well to coat.
- Will keep for a day, covered, in the fridge.
OTHER KOHLRABI RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Kohlrabi & Cucumber Quencher
Kohlrabi & Apple Salad
Kohlrabi & Carrot Slaw
5 Tasty Ways to Prepare Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi Salad with Coriander & Lime
Roasted Potato & Kohlrabi Salad
Shredded Kohlrabi Quick Pickle Recipe
Kohlrabi Fritters
Spicy Kohlrabi Noodle Salad
Roasted Broccoli & Kohlrabi Salad
Kohlrabi Gratin with a Buttery Crust
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Jeanette Leighton says
Looks lovely theirs nothing nicer than homemade coleslaw I could eat it by the bucket
Life as Mum says
Now that looks super tasty and delicious.
nicol says
I’ve never heard of kohlrabi before. I’m always up for trying new things!
Emily Leary says
I really like coleslaw that’s cut up like this, not too chunky but not super thin either. I bet the kohlrabi really kicks it up a notch too!
Angela Bethea says
That is really interesting. I haven’t tasted this yet but I definitely want to try. The coleslaw looks so yummy!
Jacqueline says
I’ve never heard of this vegetable before. I am in Toronto where there is less variety than when I lived in England. But the next time I am in China Town I will seek out Kohlrabi. I feel I will find it there and I’d like to give it a go.
Agata says
Can’t beat homemade slaw! There are so many uses for them, we tend to have some in the fridge most of the time 😉
stephanie says
I love making homemade slaw, not tried this recipe before but it sounds delicious x
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
kohlrabi is great I’ve been eating it since I was little. I must try making a coleslaw with it. Thanks for the recipe 😉
Francesca says
I love making homemade coleslaw but I must admit i’ve never heard nor used the main ingredient in this one!
five little doves says
Oh I love coleslaw and It’s one of the best ways for me to get vegetables into the kids without them realising! This looks great!
Susan R says
I wouldn’t have known how to prepare kohlrabi but it looks like you put it to great use with a delicious recipe
Heather Haigh says
never thought of putting kohlrabi in coleslaw – great idea, it’s one veg I find quite easy to grow. Wheras those fluttery white monsters are devouring my cabbages.
Mel says
I love coleslaw so will have to give this a try. Had never heard of a kohlrabi!
Patrick says
I knew this salad was a winner when I saw that you added raisins to it! This looks refreshing!
Sarah Bailey says
This sounds like a really interesting idea, I love that it is so quick to make I bet it would be a delicious side dish.
Olivia Jade says
Coleslaw is my absolute favourite and I am pretty sure I could have it with every meal.
I love your recipe it’s unique to any I’ve heard before 🙂
Claire says
This looks absolutely scrumptious!
shaheen says
I am growing some kohlrabi in the garden, its lovely to watch and will be harvesting the first soon.
I like making these kohlrabi fritters or kohrabi pakoras as I like to call, them, i have been making them since 2010. https://allotment2kitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/kohlrabi-fritters-or-kohlrabi-pakoras.html
I do love a good kohrabi coleslaw too and hope to have some on my plate again soon.