046 / 75 · Something Alongside
Cucumber and Caraway Quick Slaw
4 side portions · Active 15 min · Total 25 min
Print recipe · PDFCucumber and cabbage make a quick, crisp slaw with caraway and a light vinegar dressing. It needs no mayonnaise and only a short rest. This is a side salad for a meal you are about to eat, not a preserve to store outside the refrigerator.

Slice thinly, drain lightly
Salt the cucumber briefly while shredding cabbage. Drain and blot rather than squeezing hard; the cucumber should stay crisp. Caraway seeds have a strong flavor, so begin with the small measured amount and crush lightly between fingers or with the flat side of a knife. The vinegar dressing should coat the vegetables without collecting in a deep pool. Toss again after ten minutes and taste before adding salt. The slaw pairs with grilled sausage, potatoes or a simple sandwich, but it is also useful for adding crunch to leftovers. Keep it in a separate container if the rest of the meal will be reheated. Without mayonnaise it still contains cut fresh vegetables, so refrigeration matters. A lidded bowl is helpful at camp, both for keeping the salad cold and for protecting it from dust and insects while the rest of supper is prepared.
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced (300 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 cups finely shredded white cabbage (140 g)
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar (15 ml)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (2 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds, lightly crushed
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill (4 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Set out
Mixing bowl, Sieve, Knife
Allergens
No major US allergen identified in the base ingredients. Check labels and substitutions.
Make it
- Toss cucumber with salt in the sieve and leave for 10 minutes. Drain and blot gently.
- Whisk vinegar, oil, sugar, caraway and pepper in the bowl.
- Add cucumber, cabbage and dill. Toss thoroughly.
- Rest 10 minutes, toss again and serve, or refrigerate promptly until the meal.
A side that stays out of the hot pan
Prepare the slaw first and refrigerate it. That frees the limited cooking surface for the main meal and avoids rushing knife work beside a hot skillet.
A useful detail
Cut cabbage finely with a knife; no mandoline is needed on a small camp table.
Another way
- Use finely shredded red cabbage instead of white.
- Replace dill with chopped parsley if preferred.
Keep it well
Refrigerate at 40°F/4°C or below within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F/32°C. Use within 2 days; drain accumulated liquid before serving. Keep chilled during travel.