PARMESAN BLACK PEPPER COLESLAW

PARMESAN BLACK PEPPER COLESLAW image

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 large (2 1/2 -pound) green cabbage with attractive outer leaves
1 large red bell pepper
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sugar
Coarsely ground black pepper
Salt
1 (6- to 8-ounce) piece of Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano, at room temperature (so that it will be easy to grate)
3 tablespoons regular or reduced-fat (not nonfat) mayonnaise
3 tablespoons regular or reduced-fat (not nonfat) sour cream

Steps:

Remove 4 to 5 of the attractive outer leaves from cabbage, rinse, and pat dry. Store in plastic bag in the refrigerator until you are ready to garnish slaw. Quarter the cabbage lengthwise and remove the tough core. Slice quarters thinly to yield 12 cups. (Save extra cabbage for another use.) Place in a large nonreactive bowl. Slice bell pepper lengthwise into thin strips; cut strips in half and add to bowl with cabbage. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoons pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss to coat well. Marinate, uncovered at cool room temperature, 30 minutes. Grate cheese using the coarse side of a hand grater or a food processor to yield 1 1/2 cups. (You will probably have some cheese left over.) Be sure to grate cheese coarsely, not finely, for this recipe. Add to the slaw mixture. Whisk together the mayonnaise and sour cream; add to the cabbage mixture, and toss well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours. (Slaw can be made 6 hours ahead; bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.) TO SERVE: Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Line a shallow serving bowl with the reserved cabbage leaves and mound slaw on top.