This Asian Pear Slaw is a little crunchy, a little sweet, and a little spicy! It's a Thai-style coleslaw that pairs well with any Thai or Asian dish. Vegan, Paleo and Whole30 compliant.
What to serve alongside Thai dishes? This Asian Pear Slaw with Ginger and Lime is a perfect choice!
With a couple of Asian pears (also known as apple pears) in the fridge and plans to make spicy Bangkok Thai Crab Cakes, I thought a simple, sweet and spicy Asian-style salad would be an ideal accompaniment.
And I was right. This Thai-style coleslaw added a touch of light sweetness to balance the spicy dip that I served with the crab cakes.
What are Asian Pears?
Asian pears, also known as Apple Pears, Chinese Pears or Korean Pears, are sweet and crisp. They're round, not pear-shaped. Their skins are sometimes a little tough, so I peeled them to make this simple tasty Asian-style slaw.
They're available as imported fruit in stores, but they also grow locally later in the year. If you're lucky to have a friend with a tree, beg a few.
They're absolutely delicious, and they add natural sweetness and a crisp texture to this slaw. You'll also love this Asian Pear and Cranberry Chopped Salad.
🛒 Ingredients
- celery: 2 stalks
- Asian pears: if you can't find them, use a firm winter pear, like D'Anjou
- cilantro: use parsley if you don't like cilantro
- green onions
- fresh ginger
- lime juice: freshly squeezed is always best
- rice vinegar
- Thai chili pepper: just a hint
🔪 Instructions
Use a julienne tool if you have one to make this Thai-inspired pear coleslaw. If not, you could grate the Asian pear and the celery or cut them with a sharp knife into fine match sticks.
Whisk together the ginger, lime juice and rice vinegar and toss with the remaining ingredients. If you don't like cilantro, you could substitute fresh parsley.
Very simple. Very good.
🍽 Serving suggestions
Try this simple Asian Pear Slaw with any of these dishes.
- Ginger Garlic Glazed Korean Chicken Skewers
- Asian Glazed Garlic Chicken
- Healthy Open Face Thai Chicken Burgers
- Easy Thai Chicken Skewers
- Easy Thai Baked Chicken
- Spicy Thai Wings
- Bangkok Crab Cakes with Spicy Thai Dip
🗒 More healthy coleslaw recipes
If you like coleslaw, try these recipes, too:
- Crunchy Cabbage Coleslaw with Sesame Miso Dressing
- Grape, Apple and Red Cabbage Slaw
- Super Crunchy Thai Noodle Salad
- Thai Style Coleslaw with Kohlrabi
Asian Pear Slaw with Ginger and Lime
Ingredients
- 2 large stalks celery, julienned
- 2 large (3-inch diameter) Asian pears, peeled and julienned, (also called apple pears)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced, (scallions)
- ½ inch knob fresh ginger, finely grated
- 2 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- ¼ tsp Thai chili pepper, very finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together the ginger, lime juice and rice vinegar, then toss with the remaining ingredients. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Tools I used to make this Asian Pear Slaw:
This post was originally published in 2017. It has been immensely popular, so I've updated it and bumped it up!
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Kari Peters says
I can see myself pairing this with everything Asian, the flavors are right up my alley! I'm excited to see your crab cake recipe, I've never done anything other than the traditional crab cakes, but a Thai twist sounds even better to me!
Flavour & Savour says
Hopefully soon, Kari! 🙂
Jenn says
This is a wonderful recipe! We received several Asian pears as part of our CSA and discovered we don't like them very much as is. I couldn't bear to waste them so I turned to St Google for help. This slaw transforms them into pure deliciousness. Thank you!
Flavour & Savour says
That's a great way to avoid wasting them--transform them! I agree--that little bit of ginger and lime brightens them up. Thanks for letting me know, Jenn!
Dierdre says
I've made this slaw many times and never tire of it! So refreshing. Thanks for another great recipe!
Donna says
Nice change of pace for a crispy "sweet" and tangy side dish. Fresh ginger gave it a nice kick.
Sue says
This salad was awesome. Going to be a regular.
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Sue! Happy to hear that!