Kohlrabi Slaw

Made with toasted hazelnuts, red onions, and apples, this easy kohlrabi slaw is crisp and refreshing. It's a light, lovely side dish for any autumn meal.

kohlrabi slaw recipe

If you still have space for one more dish on your Thanksgiving menu, make this kohlrabi slaw recipe! It’s crisp and refreshing – the perfect way to balance out indulgent holiday fare like stuffing and mashed potatoes. Plus, it calls for just 10 ingredients, and it comes together in right around 15 minutes. You can chop the veggies, whisk up the dressing, and have it on the table in the time it takes to warm your dinner rolls or sweet potato casserole in the oven!

The recipe comes my friend Andrea‘s new book Local Dirt: Seasonal Recipes for Eating Close to Home. In 2018, Andrea challenged herself to eat only food grown within a 200-mile radius of her farm for one month. Local Dirt commemorates her experience. It’s chock-full of stories, recipes, and tips for eating locally, or, in Andrea’s words, “discovering and celebrating what we have.” What could be more in the Thanksgiving spirit? The book isn’t vegetarian, but it still includes a number of enticing veggie options. I can’t wait to try the Chilled Beet & Yogurt Soup, Fennel & Hazelnut Gratin, and classic Apple Pie next!

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi Slaw Recipe Ingredients

If you’re thinking, “What the heck is kohlrabi?”, I hear you. I first learned what it was years ago, when it appeared in my CSA box. Like cabbage and broccoli, it’s a member of the brassica family. It has a mustardy, peppery taste and crisp texture similar to a turnip. It’s super versatile – you can roast it and sauté it – but I like it best raw. This slaw shows off its crunchy, juicy texture perfectly. I think you’re going to love it!

Kohlrabi salad recipe ingredients

Once you get your hands on some kohlrabi (you only need 1!), gather these simple ingredients to make the slaw:

  • An apple – Look for a variety that’s crisp and sweet. I used a Gala apple, and it was delicious, but a Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple would work well too.
  • Red onion – It adds a mild bite to the salad.
  • Apple cider vinegar and mustard – They make the dressing nice and tangy.
  • Honey – It balances the assertive mustard and vinegar.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – Andrea actually calls for hazelnut oil, but I swapped in olive oil because it’s what I keep on hand. Use what you have or what’s local to you!
  • Hazelnuts – They add extra crunch and rich, nutty flavor.
  • And parsley – It gives the kohlrabi salad a lovely fresh finish.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Sliced kohlrabi on a cutting board

When you’re ready to cook, clip off the kohlrabi leaves, peel the bulb, and slice it into thin planks. Then, slice the planks into matchsticks. While you’re at it, thinly slice the onion, and chop the apple into matchsticks too.

Apples, kohlrabi, and onions in a large bowl

Whisk the oil, vinegar, mustard, and honey together at the bottom of a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper, garnish the salad with parsley, and serve!

Fall salad in a large bowl with wooden utensils

Kohlrabi Slaw Variations

For every recipe in the book, Andrea offers suggestions to “Localize It,” or use different ingredients that you might have on hand. Here are her ideas for this kohlrabi salad:

  • Switch the fruit. Try using a ripe pear instead of an apple. Heads up: you might want to shop in advance. Pears are often sold underripe and need a few days to soften on the counter.
  • Try another nut. No hazelnuts? No problem. Use walnuts, pecans, or almonds instead.
  • Use a different veggie. Andrea recommends using thinly sliced broccoli stems instead of kohlrabi. How creative is that?!
  • Add some cheese. This suggestion actually comes from me. I think some shaved pecorino or Parmesan would be fantastic in this salad! The salty flavor would contrast nicely with the sweet apples.

Andrea writes that “Cooking and eating should be fun,” and I completely agree. I hope you enjoy experimenting with these variations. Let me know which ones you try!

Local Dirt by Andrea Bemis

Kohlrabi Salad Serving Suggestions

Because it’s so simple, this kohlrabi slaw is a great recipe to have in your back pocket in the fall. Whip it up anytime you need a quick side dish to round out an autumn dinner. It would pair nicely with Stuffed Acorn Squash, Creamy Mushroom Polenta, Pumpkin or Butternut Squash Soup, or any of these pasta recipes:

And as I mentioned above, this kohlrabi salad would also be a wonderful addition to a Thanksgiving dinner! Serve it with classic side dishes like green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce. For more Thanksgiving ideas, check out this post, and don’t forget the pumpkin pie for dessert!

kohlrabi slaw

More Favorite Fall Salads

If you love this kohlrabi slaw, check out Local Dirt! In the meantime, try one of these fall salad recipes next:

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Kohlrabi Slaw

rate this recipe:
5 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Serves 4
This easy kohlrabi slaw is a refreshing, delicious fall side dish! It's adapted from Local Dirt by Andrea Bemis with permission from the publisher.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil or hazelnut oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 large apple, cored and cut into matchsticks
  • 1 medium kohlrabi, peeled and cut into matchsticks
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/4 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley, more for garnish
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, and salt.
  • Add the apple, kohlrabi, onion, hazelnuts, and parsley, and toss to coat.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper, garnish with additional parsley, and serve.

18 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Cindy
    11.10.2023

    Is it ok made the night before?

  2. Marcus
    09.13.2023

    I tried the recipe last night with pear, ordinary onion (didn’t have red in the house,) and omitting the honey. Was fabulous. Thanks for this.

  3. Maggie
    07.03.2023

    Hello. I want to try this recipe and had a pre-trial question.

    The kohlrabi I purchased had nice stemmed green leaves. Can I use the stem portion of the leaves in the slaw?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.03.2023

      Hi Maggie, if it’s tender you can, but I often just use the bulb part.

  4. Kat
    06.17.2023

    5 stars
    Excellent go to for Kohlrabi! Such a different slaw. Great alternative from the typical coke slaw for a BBQ.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.19.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  5. Bob
    06.08.2023

    5 stars
    Outstanding! Got a spring kohlrabi at the famer’s market and found your recipe. Much better than kohlrabi slaw recipes I used last fall. Used a pink lady apple, subbed walnut oil and walnuts cuz that what was I the pantry. Used a mandolin to matchstick the apple and kohlrabi, and the apple peeler helped with kohlrabi. Hoping the farmer’s market will have one again this weekend!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.08.2023

      Hi Bob, I’m so glad you loved it!

  6. Penny
    08.06.2022

    5 stars
    Delicious, simple and quick summer/fall salad! I omitted the honey as we don’t like sweet and subbed toasted walnuts for hazelnuts as I didn’t have any of the latter. Used a tart green apple. Will make again, family favourite!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.10.2022

      Hi Penny, I’m so glad it was such a hit!

  7. Diane
    10.20.2021

    5 stars
    Kohlrabi is also good fried in butter, or eaten raw. Thanks for the recipe for the slaw, I am going to try it.

  8. Matt
    07.04.2021

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe. I have made a slaw similar with jicama apple onion and cilantro. kohlrabi is great raw or roasted. I think the parsley really complimented the flavors here. Well done!

  9. Helen
    06.20.2021

    Very nice! I added some lime and thai chillies to add an extra zing. A good summer recipe! Would make again, thank you!

  10. Annie Schneider
    05.01.2021

    5 stars
    Don’t wait til Fall! I’ve made it for spring and added a bit of cabbage. No apple or red onion or hazelnuts because I didn’t have any. Added sunflower seeds and chopped dried cranberries. Awesome! Thank you!

  11. Cristie
    04.29.2021

    5 stars
    Thank you for this yummy recipe.

  12. Kate
    12.26.2020

    I made this amazing salad for Christmas dinner and it was a hit. Fresh, crunchy and full of flavor. I have never tried kohlrabi and now I plan to look for more recipes to try out. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.26.2020

      Hi Kate, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.