Sometimes coleslaw with its typical sugary, mayonnaise-based dressing can seem like a bit much. I recently came a hundred-year-old dressing for Cabbage Salad with Ham that calls for simply dressing it with warm vinegar. The simplicity of the dressing really brings out the flavor of this salad.
Here is the original recipe:
And, here is the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Cabbage Salad with Ham
1 quart (4 cups) cabbage, grated (about 1 medium cabbage)
1 medium onion, finely minced
1/4 cup ham, diced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine grated cabbage and minced onion in a bowl. Set aside
Sauté diced ham in a skillet using medium heat until lightly browned. Stir in vinegar, salt, and pepper; heat until hot. Pour heated vinegar over cabbage and onion; stir to combine. Serve.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Oh my, I just bought some ham pieces today. Great timing.
I think that you’d enjoy this recipe.
Again so simple, and such simple ingredients — love it!
One of the reasons I really enjoy making hundred-year-old recipes is that many only have a few ingredients and are easy to make.
That lights up my PA Dutch taste buds.
I love dressings like this. We both have PA Dutch taste buds. 🙂
That seems a heck of a lot of raw onion. Does it work?
It didn’t seem like too much onion, and worked for me – though, the amount of onion could easily be reduced in this recipe.
This sounds very much like something my German grandmother would have made.
My grandmothers’ also made recipes similar to this.
🙂 happy memories 🙂
I much prefer the no-mayo cabbage salad, which is what the folks along the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania used to call it–never “cole slaw.” I think they often added a bit of sugar as well, to give it a sweet-and-sour sensibility. Cole slaw was usually made with a boiled dressing, rather than just mayo and seasonings. I do love these old recipes, Sheryl!
It nice to hear that you enjoy these recipes. Your comment brought back memories of how my mother often had a jar of homemade boiled dressing in the refrigerator. It was almost a staple when I was going up.
That sounds simple enough!
It’s a nice, easy recipe.
Sounds really good. I’m not a fan of the gloppy, sweet usual dressing.
I think that you’d like this recipe.
This old recipe (it sounds German) needs to be brought back, it sounds terrific!
I agree – I also think that this recipe probably had German origins.
I enjoy coleslaw with mayo or vinegar,and adding ham sounds interesting! Makes it have more color to it.
The bits of ham were a nice added touch to this recipe.
What an interesting cabbage recipe. Looks good.
It’s tasty.
Love this and love cabbage!xxx
If you like cabbage, you’d like this recipe.