Creamy Ponzu Coleslaw

creamy ponzu coleslaw

Admitting the mayonnaise addiction wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Actually, it felt somewhat refreshing. Plus, it gave me an excuse to purchase some shrimp (which is clearly another addiction) and make some delicious shrimp rolls. Although, now that I think of it, I had just combined two of my food addictions in that recipe. May be counter productive huh?

So, in continuing with this trend to admit all my embarrassing childhood food habits, I’m about to tell you of an embarrassing moment in my life. I love coleslaw. I love all kinds of coleslaw. Tart, tangy, creamy, and/or sweet. It doesn’t matter to me. I just like the crunchy texture and the flavors that are involved. Vinegar, citrus, or mayonnaise based (mmm…mayonnaise) coleslaws are more than welcome in my belly any summer day. I haven’t always been so open to such diverse slaws. When I was young I would only prefer one type of coleslaw. Actually, one brand of coleslaw. It was the Kentucky Fried Chicken coleslaw. Man, that’s some delicious stuff. The small pieces of cabbage and carrots that have been minced beyond recognition by some machine and then marinated in the dressing for days while it ships to a local KFC was like God’s Nectar to me. When my mom would bring it home, I knew what I would be eating: coleslaw with a side of fried chicken and amuse bouche of mashed potatoes.

My parents, because they worked so hard to let my brother and I be where we are today, had to work late sometimes. This also meant a quick, and rare, trip to KFC for their advertised family dinners to go. When my parents did bring home a bucket, I would scream like a school kid at first smell of the chicken. The scream of delight was not for the chicken with all of its secret spices, or the brown gravy, or dehydrated and then rehydrated mashed potato. My excitement and gaze was focused on the small nubules of cabbage, carrot, and onions swimming in a broth of cold, milky, sweet puddle that was encased in styrofoam bowls. My love for coleslaw was not only limited to a squeal. That was only the beginning. I would slip and slide across the kitchen floor in my socks and devour the coleslaw with extreme passion, gusto, and fear that someone else (my brother) would get to it before me. I would enjoy every bite, texture, and flavor until all was gone. Then, and this is where I need to accept my problem, I would stare at the cup of sweet, sweet cream in front of me. Beautiful liquid would be left in the bowl and I would attempt to figure out some stealth like strategy for what was about to happen. I’d then look up to see if the rest of the family was paying attention to their youngest. And with ninja quick reflexes, or whatever reflexes a ten year old had, I would drink the dressing that had pooled in the bottom of the cup.
Yup, in addition to eating spoon fulls of mayonnaise, I would drink fast food style coleslaw dressing by the gulp full. I didn’t do it as much as the mayonnaise, mainly because there wasn’t as much access to coleslaw in my house, but you can guarantee that I was hiding somewhere in a corner drinking away every time we had some of this amazing side.

I still enjoy a KFC/KGC coleslaw now and then. I can assure you, however, that I do NOT drink the dressing anymore. I also now make my own coleslaw so I can control the amount of dressing that is used. I used ponzu in my coleslaw. It’s a blend of yuzu and soy. If you can’t find it at your local Asian grocery store, you can substitute it with lime and soy instead. I also like to buy the pre packaged broccoli slaw. The only reason is because I’m lazy. If you want to shred your own carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and stuff…go ahead, but why? Enjoy.

~stuff

1/4 cup minced scallion

2 tbs mayonnaise

2 tsp ponzu

1 tsp agave syrup or honey

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dehydrated onion flakes

1 tsp rice vinegar

salt and white pepper to taste

1 bag (12 ounces) of broccoli slaw (or shredded cabbage, or whatever you like)

~steps

whisk all ingredients except for the vegetables in a bowl

toss dressing with slaw until fully incorporated

-serves 4-