Does coleslaw belong on the Thanksgiving table?

[Anonymous]

If you or someone wants to bring it, does it really hurt anything, other than taking up table space. If people want to eat it, great. If they don’t, trash it or send it back home.

As long as you have the traditional food for your group, does it matter if there’s an outlier?

[Anonymous]

No, but I have seen Sauerkraut. So, if you want cabbage, you could have sauerkraut instead of cole slaw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If someone in the family enjoys it and will eat it then it is appropriate.

I hate coleslaw and I agree with this answer. It’s thanksgiving — there’s a lot of other things I can eat!

[Anonymous]

No to cole slaw, but in our midwestern family (originally from south prior to great migration), potato salad IS part of Thanksgiving. And my grandmother usually made slaw the day after thanksgiving to eat with turkey sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

I make the kitchn’s thanksgiving slaw - with lots of chopped kale - as an extra veggie side in lieu of salad. I don’t think of it as strictly slaw and there’s no mayonnaise - it’s something cool and crisp on my plate and amazing with sandwiches the next day.
But who cares? I have my favorites for thanksgiving and if there’s something on the table I’m not in the mood for, I just pass to the left

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help me settle a debate: Is there any geographic setting in which coleslaw would be considered an appropriate side dish at a potluck thanksgiving? Thank you for your thoughts.

I am in the camp of anything goes on the table, if that is what the people eating at that table want it. So, if you want it, then yes.

[Anonymous]

In Baltimore they eat sauerkraut with thanksgiving. I could see that spinning into coleslaw in some families.

[Anonymous]

Sure! The more food, the merrier. I would probably have a serving, but I like all vegetables.

[Anonymous]

No. Unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with sauerkraut on the Thanksgiving table, both my Maryland and Pennsylvania families always had it and still do. And I love it as it's perfect with turkey.

Don't see a problem with slaw. It's just another salad. I can see it going well with the dryness of a typical turkey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Indiana my great aunt always had vinegar slaw at holidays.

This is exactly what traditional thanksgiving meals are missing and what cranberry sauce doesn’t provide - an acidic punch that is not overly sweet. In my family, we always have kimchi (and chapjae) at thanksgiving. The kimchi cuts through all the fat and richness.

I would love both of those as well

[Anonymous]

No. It’s for bbq and potlucks.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Indiana my great aunt always had vinegar slaw at holidays.

This is exactly what traditional thanksgiving meals are missing and what cranberry sauce doesn’t provide - an acidic punch that is not overly sweet. In my family, we always have kimchi (and chapjae) at thanksgiving. The kimchi cuts through all the fat and richness.

I would love both of those as well

Kimchi and chapjae are really good ideas for a Thanksgiving side.

Back in the 19th into early 20th century it was very standard to serve pickled dishes and vinegary relishes as sides to dinner. Because they aided with the digestion and added spice and variety. All the old cookbooks are crowded with recipes for pickles and relishes for a reason. And I guarantee you the Victorian Thanksgiving would have had a selection of these relishes and pickles alongside with the potatoes and turkey.

A nice vinegary coleslaw would fall into this category and if there is a big meal that desperately needs something to help with digestion, it's Thanksgiving!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom insists on it. So she makes it, nobody else really eats it or cares if it's there. I don't know why it's a Thanksgiving food for her, but it's not the same type of Cole slaw you find at a summer bbq.

She's making german cole slaw. Has a vinegar base. https://www.craftbeering.com/krautsalat-german-coleslaw-white-cabbage-salad/