I first visited Washington State when my (at the time) boyfriend invited me to come visit his parents.
I took him up on his offer, met the parents, and now the then-boyfriend is my husband and father of my two children. My, how time flies!
At the time that I visited Washington State, I purchased a Washington cookbook – The Best of the Best of Washington State – and over the past six years I have been cooking my way through this gosh darn cook book! (I will finish this cookbook someday…. Someday!)
While tackling this particular recipe, I called my Mother-in-Law to chat, and tell her I was cooking a recipe from her region and me and the kiddos were thinking of her. While we were chit-chatting, I COMPLETELY forgot that I had bacon in the oven… until I smelled the smoke!
Slightly burnt bacon aside, I think this recipe came out marvelously! So check it out!
A Little Bit About the Recipe
Coleslaw (also known as cole slaw or simply slaw) is a salad consisting primarily of finely-shredded raw cabbage and dressed most commonly with a vinaigrette salad dressing. Prepared in this manner, coleslaw can be pickled for up to four weeks if it is stored in an airtight container. Another way to make coleslaw is to use foods that already contain vinaigrette: mayonnaise, for example, is commonly used.
Coleslaw is frequently served as a side dish in traditional meals in many countries. The term coleslaw that we use today came from the Dutch term koolsla, meaning “cabbage salad”. The kool part is the Dutch word for cabbage and the sla part is a Dutch abbreviation of the word salade. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, Dutch settlers flooded into the United States. They brought with them their recipe for chilled cabbage salad, which today is a mixture of the shredded vegetable with mayonnaise, salad dressing, sour cream or buttermilk with vinegar, sugar and other seasonings added.
All of that said, THIS recipe that I am sharing with you today is a German coleslaw. Traditional German coleslaw – or “Krautsalat” – consists of finely shredded cabbage marinated with oil and vinegar.
In 1890, Germans were the second largest immigration group to come to the Pacific Northwest. They came to America to escape war and famine, and to satisfy a desire for liberty and take advantage of economic opportunity. Many settled in the Eastern part of the country at first, but ended up coming West in search of good, cheap land, the opportunity to practice their trades or sell their wares. They found homes either on the fertile farmlands of Washington State.
So this, is at it’s very roots, is a Washington State recipe, embracing the roots of German immigrants who adopted the name of American, and helped to make this state a great, prosperous, and gorgeous region of the United States of America!
You Will Need:
6 cups shredded cabbage
2 cups shredded carrots
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
12 green onions, thinly sliced
½ cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup sugar (or honey)
1 teaspoon salt
Combine cabbage, carrots, bacon, and onions.
In a jar with a tight fitting lid, mix the vinegar, oil, sugar and salt. Shake well.
Just before serving, pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss.
Are you a fan of coleslaw? Share below!
the bacon isn’t burnt, it’s just extra crispy ? i’m usually not a fan of mayo-laden coleslaws (it’s just so heavy feeling, and i feel a little queasy if i think about the mayo sitting in hot sun for hours), so this bright, tangy, vinegary one sounds perfect!
Hahaha, that is a great way of looking at… extra crispy! haha. And yes, this was so light a crisp! We at the whole batch in one day!
I love cole slaw, my granddaughters and the fun moment My daughter-in-love called me to tell me about the recipe. It was meant to be a quick chat of “thinking about you” but when reminiscing with my girls time ticked on. Suddenly a screem, “The bacon! Gotta go grandma!” Love you, Gingi!
Hehehe, fun memory, yes? ALSO!! I forgot to mention… Tessa helped slice those green onions! She was quite proud of herself too!
I am German, so obviously I love anything that has cabbage in it.
Hahaha, you guys kinda corner the market on cabbage based goodies! 😉
Interesting recipe, I haven’t yet salad with bacon, I must to try it 😉
You should! Bacon goes well with ANYTHING! lol
Thanks a lot 😀
Hum, I need to try this recipe. Looks awesome and very delicious 😀
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It really is! We are going to whip this up for future pot luck type gatherings!
Looks tasty! Though I’d replace the bacon with something veggie-proof for me.
Vegetarian bacon….??
It looks delicious sweetie
Kisses
Thanks Maggie! It really was! <3
This salad sounds delicious!
Kisses, Paola.
Thanks! It was, we are SO making this again in the future! <3
Sounds like really easy recipe, personally I love salats, so I’ll keep that recipe in my mind 🙂
Yeah, it is soooo nice for people getting tired of the same old same old loose leaf salad! <3
Coleslaw is something I like to eat with BBQ, but I don’t think I’d ever take the time to make it myself. However, this looks unbelievably delicious with the bacon (even if it crispy!). I love the idea of cooking your way through a cookbook!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Hahaha, I can’t help it, I am OCD!! lol!
To be honest, I’m not a fan of coleslaw but a lot of my family are, so thanks for sharing!
For sure! <3 <3
absolutely yes please to anything at all with bacon … and honey.
yes, even cabbage!
;-}
Hahaha, bacon and honey makes EVERYTHING better! 😉
Gingi you had me at bacon… this sounds delicious. I would like this Cole slaw… yummy xox ♡
Wish you were closer so I could share some with you!!!
I’m not really a fan of coleslaw, but then I saw bacon, and I’m in 🙂
HAHAHA, bacon is the great converter to all things edible! lol
I have never heard of this style of coleslaw, and I want to eat it so badly!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Yeah, doesn’t it look tasty!!!! Much prefer to the creamy variety!
I make different types of slaw all the time but I’ve never thought to put bacon in any of them. Going to try this version over the weekend.
Ohhhhh, do let me know what you think!!! <3
Ha not burnt bacon at all just how I like it! I love coleslaw that isn’t smothered in mayo so this one sounds right up my alley and the fact it has bacon in it makes it pretty much 10/10! I love buying recipe books when I go to different states and countries 🙂
Yeah, me too! My problem is though, I am crazy OCD so I have to cook through ALL OF THEM!!!! Makes dieting hard. lol!!
Coleslaw with bacon… UMMMMMMMM YES PLEASE, I enjoyed learning the history of coleslaw, awesome post Gingi 🙂
Thanks Mary! I am a junkie for food history!
I love your story of how the first time you visited there was when you were meeting your boyfriend’s (now husband’s) parents for the first time! This salad looks so fresh 🙂
aglassofice.com
x
Yeah, fun memories!!!
this recipe delicious, very healty
kisses
It really is, super tasty too! <3
Yum, I really like my cole slaw and I bet the addition of bacon just makes it all the better!
IT DOES!!! You really have to try it!! I want bacon in my cole slaw pretty much forever now, haha
Wow, yet another interesting read! I love that I’m always learning new things when I visit, particularly history lessons that coincide with many of the popular foods and places we know today, yet know nothing about. I had no idea about the origins of cole slaw, such a cool background and it’s a side that I absolutely LOVE! Thanks for sharing, beauty, and I hope you have a great weekend ahead!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Awwwww, your comments always make me blush!!!!!! Thanks Jalisa! Have a wonderful week sweetie!
I love all kinds of coleslaw—and adding bacon makes it even better!!
Right?!?!??!?!
Ha ha talk abot smoked bacon! Great addition to a cole slaw, thanks for the lesson on this salad. I liek to use brussel sprouts instead of cabbage sometimes and no one knows they are eating brussel sprouts.
Dude, I have to try that some time… what a cool swap out!
I enjoy trying different recipes for coleslaw, and as much as I love bacon, I don’t know why in the world it never occurred to me to add it! (lol) Thanks for the idea. I lived in Bremerton Washington many years ago, and really loved the area. Hugs…RO
How cool! I know, I need just start adding “and bacon” to every single recipe, hahah… you never can go wrong! <3
Sounds like a great cookbook especially if you’re motivated enough to go through the whole thing. i can’t think of a single cookbook that I own like that!
I have WAY too many travel cookbooks! lol!
The coleslaw looks delish! I actually like my bacon a little burnt. 🙂
Hahaha, me too actually! 😉
I’ve never been to Washington State, but I’ve heard great things! Time does fly SO quickly, too quickly if you ask me! This coleslaw looks amazing! LOVE the addition of bacon in here! I could totally just eat a vat of this deliciousness as my meal! Cheers, girl!
Hahhaha, we uhhh…. kinda did? *blush*
I guess adding bacon would get some people to eat salad!
RIGHT?!?!??!?! haha!
Makes me want to munch on some cabbage!!
I LOVE raw cabbage.. I am always so surprised when people act like it is one of those dreaded vegetables, lol!
Yum, this looks delicious! Great pictures too!
Have a lovely day 🙂
Rosanna x
Thanks! You too Rosanna! <3
Great healthy recipe!
Have a nice day,
Natallia
Yup! Gonna keep this one in my lunch munchies arsenal! <3
i really dislike a mayonnaise-heavy slaw, so this looks perfect to my eyes! great story behind it too. 🙂
Yeah, me too! Keeping this one in the recipe box for sure! <3
Hi Gingi, I can just tell this is delicious, love the dressing.
Coleslaw is just so good to eat.
Recipe sounds delicious
All the best Jan
Great recipe – my family would love this for sure.
I will eat a bowl now love cabbage this looks delicious