Spicy Cabbage and Corn Slaw

Crunchy cabbage, sweet summer corn, spicy jalapenos, tangy lime juice, and smoky chili powder come together to make one amazingly delicious side dish. This Cabbage Corn Slaw is seriously my favorite warm weather side dish. 

This slaw takes 5 minutes to make and only has a few basic steps. First, you'll prep the base of the coleslaw. Then, you'll make the dressing. It's made with a combination of fresh jalapenos, cilantro, light mayo, lime juice, honey, and spices. It's creamy, sweet, spicy, and tangy—delicious.

Make it as a side dish, use it to top tacos or pulled pork, or take a page from my playbook and eat practically the whole recipe out of the bowl over the sink. It's delish.

If you're as obsessed with coleslaw as I am, you have to try this Asian Kale Apple Slaw and Celery Ranch Slaw!

Ingredients

• Corn: When in season, I always choose fresh corn. However, frozen corn is the next best thing when I can't find fresh corn. Look for sweet corn (yellow or white) that was flash-frozen after being picked.
• Cabbage: To keep things easy, I use shredded coleslaw mix or bagged green cabbage. It's super affordable and saves tons of time. However, you can use fresh green cabbage and shred or chop it yourself. Purple cabbage also works, but I prefer the milder taste of green cabbage for this corn slaw.
• Jalapeño peppers: This adds the perfect layer of spice. If you don't love spicy, swap in poblano peppers for a milder spice or mini bell peppers for a sweet crunch. Usually I like fresh jalapenos in this recipe, but it's also really good with pickled jalapenos, I love the sweet heat ones from Trader Joe's. 
• Spices: The slaw is flavored with a simple blend of chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. If you want something smokier, you can swap in taco or Cajun seasoning.
• Fresh cilantro: This adds a bright, herbal flavor that truly complements the other flavors. If you don't love cilantro, use parsley or basil.
• Lime juice: Adds a zingy, fresh flavor. I recommend fresh lime juice for the best flavor.
• Low-fat mayonnaise: Adds creaminess and binds everything together. You can use regular mayonnaise instead of low-fat if you like or use Greek yogurt, but it will be tangier. 
• Honey: Adds a little sweetness to contrast the savory flavors. Use honey and maple syrup. or white sugar. 

Can I use canned corn?

Personally, it's not my favorite option for this recipe since it tends to be a bit mushy. However, it will definitely work if that is what you have.

How to Make This Mexican Street Corn Slaw

1. Combine the Veggies

In a large bowl, toss together the corn, shredded cabbage, and jalapeños. This is the crunchy, fresh base of your slaw.

2. Make the Dressing

In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayo, lime juice, honey, and spices until smooth. This creamy, tangy dressing ties everything together. Taste it and adjust to your preferences, making it sweeter, spicier, smokier,  or creamier. 

3. Bring It All Together

Pour the dressing over the corn and cabbage mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated. Use your hands to gently massage the dressing into the cabbage. Pop it in the fridge to chill until you’re ready to serve.

4. Serve and Enjoy

Give it a quick toss before serving, and season with a little extra salt and pepper if needed. Dig in and enjoy!

How can I make this less spicy?

Depending on your audience, you can always adjust the spice level. Leave out the jalapenos and chili powder for a spice-free version, or kick up the spice by adding a serrano pepper instead of the jalapeno.

If you want an extra smoky flavor, you can add a little more cumin or a minced chipotle pepper to adobo. You can also add a diced red pepper for added crunch, color, and sweetness. It's totally up to you, and it comes out great either way.

This fish taco slaw is also an excellent option for a less spicy slaw for tacos.

Maine Dishes to Serve with Spicy Cabbage and Corn Slaw

There are so many options when it comes to main dishes to serve with this corn slaw. My absolute favorite is the Chorizo Spiced Pulled Pork recipe I am sharing below, which is also delicious with chicken, seafood, pork, steak, and tofu.

• Pulled Pork: This Slow Cooker Chorizo Spiced Pulled Pork is amazing with corn slaw on top. Toss this in the slow cooker, and once it is ready, warm up some corn tortillas and pile this corn slaw on top.
• Tacos: Plop a generous portion of this slaw onto some Carnitas or Blackened Fish Tacos.
• Bowls: This slaw would be perfect on top of Chicken Fajita Bowls or Southwest Steak Bowls for a bit of freshness!
• Chicken: Try this family favorite Grilled Pineapple Barbecue Chicken and serve this slaw on the side. The spicy flavors complement the sweeter chicken, and it's a fun twist instead of just serving corn on the cob.
• Salmon: Salmon is one of my go-to recipes for busy weeknights. Often, I will pair this Cajun Salmon with this corn slaw. Then, the next day, I add a bunch of greens for a tasty salmon and corn slaw salad.
• Steak: We love grilling steak in the summer, and this works well with that dish. Usually, I just coat the steak with simple steak seasoning.
• Tofu: If you are looking for a meatless option, try grilling or broiling tofu. This Cilantro Lime Tofu is a great option and works with the cilantro and lime in the slaw.

Recipe Ideas for Cabbage and Corn Slaw

If you are looking to personalize this recipe and add your own twist, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add cheese: Traditional Mexican street corn usually includes queso cotija or queso fresco. Inspired by that dish, add some cheese to the slaw. Feta or aged sharp cheddar would also be delicious.
• Add more veggies: To make this more of a salad than a slaw, you could add cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, chopped Romaine, red onion, and avocado.
• Kick up the heat: Add your favorite hot sauce or minced chipotle pepper to the dressing to make it even more spicy!
• Make it a meal: Add your favorite protein and serve it over a big bowl of greens or grains.
• Make it vegan: Instead of the mayonnaise, use vegan mayo, yogurt, or mashed avocado.
• Lighten it up: Use non-fat Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
• Use different herbs: If you aren't a cilantro fan, you could substitute parsley or basil instead. You can also use lemon juice instead of lime juice for a slightly different take. You could also add some orange juice for some extra sweetness.