20-Minute Fruit and Nut Slaw with Blue Cheese
A crisp, colorful slaw combining shredded cabbage with fresh strawberries, mandarin oranges, red grapes, and toasted pecans, finished with crumbled blue cheese and creamy slaw dressing. Chill for 1-8 hours before serving for best flavor development.
Ingredients
- 1 cup slaw dressingcreamy vinaigrette1:1condimentadds dairy
lighter alternative
- 1 pound cabbage, shredded, or slaw mix
- 1 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup mandarin oranges, canned, drainedfresh orange segments1:1fruit
adds freshness over canned
- 1 cup red grapes, seedless, sliced
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- ½ to 1 cup, blue cheese
Instructions
- 1
Combine shredded cabbage, hulled and sliced strawberries, drained mandarin oranges, sliced red grapes, chopped pecans, and blue cheese in a large bowl
- 2
Pour slaw dressing over ingredients and gently stir until evenly coated
- 3
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours
Tips
Use fresh strawberries at peak ripeness for best flavor and texture
Gentle stirring prevents bruising delicate fruit and maintains slaw structure
The longer chill time allows flavors to meld; do not exceed 8 hours or cabbage may become overly soft
Good to Know
Covered in refrigerator up to 8 hours. Best consumed within 6 hours for optimal texture.
Prepare all components separately and combine up to 8 hours before serving. Do not dress slaw more than 8 hours in advance or cabbage will become soggy.
Chill thoroughly before serving. Serve directly from refrigerator as a side dish or light lunch.
Common Mistakes
Do not stir vigorously to avoid bruising fruit and breaking down cabbage texture
Do not prepare beyond 8 hours ahead to avoid excessive liquid accumulation and soft cabbage
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
adds freshness over canned
lighter alternative