Can we talk about coleslaw

[lmjh]

I love proper coleslaw. I'm a fairly competent cook, but cannot get this right.

My friend makes the most delicious one, but says she just chucks stuff in.

Mine is always to mayo like, or to runny.

What's the perfect recipe?

I suspect this might be like lasagna and have a million versions containing olives and Stilton but just pure traditional coleslaw. Oh and perhaps other simple bbq type accompaniments.

I make a basic pasta. Pasta, cooked, pesto, feta, diced cherry tomatoes and pine nuts. Done.

Use much less mayo than you think. Use a dollop of sour cream too plus salt and pepper. Dress just before serving, keep the dry slaw in the fridge for up to a few days.

Cabbage and carrot shredded thin on the mandolin. Dressing of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, onion powder or granules and pepper. I don't like big surprise chunks of raw onions. The apple vinegar adds the flavour without making it sweet

I shred the cabbage on a mandolin but grate the carrot., then add diced red onion. I put the dry mix in a covered bowl in the fridge and only add the mayonnaise on the day I want to use it (I take out as much as I need and mix it in another bowl). This avoids soggy coleslaw and the dry mix lasts about 5 days in the fridge.

Does anyone add salted peanuts, we used to but haven't for a long time.

Doesnt matter what the basic recipe is veg wise, be it just cabbage and carrots or a host of fancy ingredients, what you do need is a large bowl and use your hands to work through the mayo or whatever dressing you are using so you are coating it all but not drowning it

I used to make it for the restaurants and deli counters, on a huge steel table - all mixed by hands

I think this is Jamie's Winter Slaw recipe. He also adds fresh chopped herbs to the dressing. It's my go-to 'slaw recipe, as you can vary the veg as to availability/seasonality, and the dressing is lovely.

I don't know which book it's from as I found it on the tinternet.

Google

Nigella new Orleans coleslaw

Marion Grasby crunchy satay slaw

Both excellent

Ooh I made coleslaw yesterday! I followed the Felicity Cloake perfect coleslaw recipe with the exception of using Hellmanns, not making my own mayo:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/oct/04/how-to-make-perfect-coleslaw

It was excellent, the horseradish really makes it sing.