In life as well as in Hollywood, there are the main characters - the characters whom the story centres on; the ones who get most of our attention. There are also the supporting characters who are there to create a compelling backdrop to the main character’s story and who play a role in her life. Finally, there are the extras, who are there to create the atmosphere and to make the story feel compelling and believable.
Not everyone can be the main character. Not everyone wants to be the main character. In life as well as in Hollywood, there is room for everyone. And goodness, haven't we have all been in those situations with too many main characters together in one room, all wrestling for attention, all wanting to be the number one? Ugh, I’m sure you can relate.
And here’s the thing, I think the same applies in the kitchen. Not every dish can be the main dish. We need the supporting dishes and extras to make the whole thing blend seamlessly – otherwise, it becomes a confusing mess of everything fighting to be the top dog.
Take a classic coleslaw for example. A supermarket version (almost always overdressed, over creamy, over sweet, over soggy, in my opinion) is definitely an ‘extra’ – it’s there to fill the plate, it has a place but you wouldn’t especially miss it if it wasn’t there. But now let’s bring on this Easy Classic Homemade Coleslaw and the casting changes. This fresh, crunchy salad is dressed rather than drenched with a light, balanced, tasty, well-seasoned dressing and mixed with lots of colourful, shredded, fresh vegetables. That sounds like a promotion to the role of a supporting character for this side dish.
There is nothing new about a coleslaw but this is a reminder that -
- Making coleslaw yourself is easy.
- Making coleslaw yourself is a great opportunity to use all sorts of vegetables (and we know that variety is what our guts love). Here I used red cabbage, carrot and spring onion but you can also include -
- Shredded Brussel sprouts
- White cabbage
- Kale (remove the tough stalks)
- Grated apple (especially if you enjoy the sweetness)
- Radish, thinly sliced
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Making coleslaw yourself tastes delicious and allows you to tweak everything so it’s exactly as you love it.
- Making coleslaw yourself upgrades this classic side dish from an ‘extra’ to a ‘supporting character’ and with that it really can pack a punch and make a solid contribution to a meal.
These are my top 5 ways to use this Easy Classic Homemade Coleslaw -
- Turns a breaded fish/fish finger sandwich into a decent dinner. I choose a ciabatta roll and some crunchy lettuce to complete the dish.
- Takes a barbecued burger to the next level
- Bulks out a ‘savoury tart + salad’ lunch
- Turns sausage rolls into a picnic feast
- Pile it on top of grilled cheese on toast. Dreamy.
And finally, in life, which are you - the main character, a supporting character or an extra? And more importantly, are you happy with your role?

Easy Classic Homemade Coleslaw
This fresh, crunchy salad is dressed rather than drenched with a light, balanced, tasty, well-seasoned dressing and mixed with lots of colourful, shredded, fresh vegetables. Here I used red cabbage, carrot and spring onion but you can also include shredded Brussel sprouts, white cabbage, kale (remove the tough stalks), radish (thinly sliced) and red onion (also thinly sliced).
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Cuisine: Salad
Ingredients
- 1 medium carrot, grated - mine was about 90g (3oz)
- A piece of red cabbage, finely shredded - mine was about 90g (3oz)
- 1 spring onion, finely sliced - including the green part
For the dressing -
- 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine the vegetables in a large bowl.
- Combine the dressing ingredients in a separate, small bowl using a small whisk or fork. Taste for seasoning and balance.
- Gently toss the dressing through the vegetables and serve.
Notes
Sometimes I add ½ a grated apple (with the skin on). You might like this particularly if you enjoy a touch of sweetness in your coleslaw.
Keywords: classic, side, vegetables, healthy