German Cabbage Coleslaw With Ham (Printable)

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

# What You'll 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

→ Protein

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

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, grated carrot, and thinly sliced red onion.
02 - Add the shredded smoked ham to the vegetable mixture and toss to distribute evenly throughout.
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 and emulsified.
04 - Pour the prepared dressing over the cabbage and ham mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated.
05 - Allow the coleslaw to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving to permit flavors to fully meld and develop.
06 - Transfer to serving dish and garnish with freshly chopped parsley immediately before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It holds up beautifully for hours without wilting, so you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your gathering.
  • The smokiness from the ham turns a plain slaw into something with real backbone and flavor.
  • You get crunch, tang, and just enough sweetness in every bite without feeling heavy or overdressed.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time, the cabbage needs those minutes to absorb the dressing and soften without losing its crunch.
  • If your dressing tastes too sharp, add a tiny bit more honey or a spoonful of yogurt to mellow it out.
  • Shred the cabbage by hand or with a mandoline, a food processor can turn it to mush in seconds.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline to shred the cabbage paper-thin, it makes a huge difference in texture and how well the dressing coats.
  • Toast the caraway seeds in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding them to the dressing, it wakes up their flavor completely.
  • If the slaw tastes flat, add a pinch more salt, it brings all the other flavors into focus.
Go Back