The vibrant mix of colours in this light, fragrant coleslaw make it easy on the eye as well as easy on the waistline. Four basic vegetables – spring onions, cabbage, carrot and red capsicum – are recommended here. Any combination of vegetables can be used, however.
A Low Calorie Healthy Inbetween Meal Snack
The dressing avoids excessive calories by using no oil at all. (Oil is the most calorie dense of all foods types, with 176 calories in a mere tablespoon.) Taste and appeal is enhanced with the wonderfully aromamatic Thai flavours of lemongrass and fresh lime juice.
For dieters, this makes a revitalising in-between snack. Or if simply looking for a light, refreshing accompaniment to a main meal, this fits the bill perfectly. It’s also very useful for lunches or picnics.
A whole large bowl of coleslaw has a mere 238 calories, enough for five decent serves. That makes 48 calories a serve. Asian coleslaw is also very healthy, giving you a substantial portion of your daily vegetable requirements.
A Hint On Using Lemongrass
Fresh lemongrass is suggested, but not an absolute necessity. Supermarkets sell preserved bottled versions, although they lack the tang and flavour of the fresh variety. As the name suggests, lemongrass is a grass. It is a perrennial, and hence is available all year round. It’s easy to locate at any Asian market (just ask for assistance if confused.) It can also be stored in the fridge for several weeks in an airtight container.
How To Prepare Lemongrass
To prepare the lemongrass, peel away the tough outer layer. Chop off the base. Press the stem with the flat side of a chopping knife to release the flavour. Finally, cross the pale section of the lemongrass across the fibres, making small ringlets. They can then be further processed in a blender to get a finer result.
Vegetarian Thai Style Asian Coleslaw
Ingredients:
Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon of sweet chilli sauce (50 calories)
- 2 teaspoons of soy sauce (5 calories)
- Juice of 1 lime (10 calories)
- 2 peeled garlic cloves (8 calories)
- 2-3 centimetres of freshly chopped lemongrass (10 calories)
Vegetables:
- 1/4 cabbage, shredded (50 calories)
- 2 medium carrots, grated (50 calories)
- 1 red capsicum, chopped (25 calories)
- 6 spring onions, chopped (30 calories)
Method
- Place all the prepared vegetables in salad bowl. Toss them through to bring out a nice medley of colours.
- In a blender finely process the prepared lemongrass, peeled garlic cloves, lime juice, sweet chili sauce and soy sauce.
- Stir the seasoning through the prepared vegetables.
- Serve.
Alternative Serving Tips
Fresh mint leaves flaked on top make a nice addition.
Or, use the coleslaw as a filling for rice paper rolls and serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Chris Saliba - Chris Saliba is a freelance writer. Read more of his workplace articles at chrissalibafreelancewriter.blogspot.com
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