Braised Red Cabbage might not be the most glamorous dish on the holiday table, but it provides a perfect sweet/tart element that brings everything else on your plate to life. Plus you can’t beat that magenta for a gorgeous pop of color.
Braised Red Cabbage has always been on our holiday tables
Ever since I can remember my German great-grandmother made sure a bowl of bright pink braised red cabbage was there. It took me a full 20 years to come around to appreciating its finer points, but now I’m a believer! The subtle sweetness from the apple, the bite of the vinegar and the earthiness of the cabbage rounds out a forkful of turkey and gravy like nothing else. It plays well with creamy mashed potatoes and squashes, goes great with green beans, but the most sophisticated pairing of all happens when it comes into chance contact with a bit of zingy cranberry sauce ~that’s an explosion of flavor you won’t soon forget.
Did you know that red cabbage is a super food?
Red cabbage has higher levels of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which give it its vibrant color and may support heart health. It also contains more vitamin C (about 85% of the daily value per cup, compared to green cabbage’s 50%). Additionally, red cabbage has slightly more vitamin A, potassium, and iron than green cabbage.
It’s low in calories, high in fiber, and available all year long, but despite all this, red cabbage is usually just a secondary ingredient in recipes. This braised red cabbage is one of the only times this powerhouse veggie gets to shine on its own.
why does red cabbage change color?
Braising red cabbage is a sort of science experiment…the color changes according to the ph balance of the cooking liquid.
Normally cabbage will turn blueish when cooked, but when you add vinegar, or an acidic fruit like apple, the cabbage turns red, pink, or magenta. Even the ph balance of the soil it’s grown in will affect the color of the plant. My braised red cabbage is a slightly different shade every year!
variations on braised red cabbage
My recipe is super simple, it’s the one that my great grandmother used, and I stick to tradition. But there are other variations that you might want to try. Some people fry up some bacon in the pan first. Some add diced onion. You can even add a hint of spice, like allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The apple and vinegar are non negotiable.
more vintage side dish recipes
- Favorite Green Bean Casserole from scratch!
- The Creamiest Creamed Corn
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole (the ultimate make ahead recipe)
- Butter Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Tips for making braised red cabbage
- Some people shred the cabbage for this dish, and some people grate it on a box grater. I prefer the texture when I shred the cabbage by hand, with a sharp knife. I just quarter the cabbage, remove the core, and then slice it thinly.
- This is not a dish I typically make ahead of time. You can shred the cabbage a day ahead and store in a zip lock baggie, if you like, but I usually cook it the day I am serving it.
- The amount and type of vinegar you use is up to you. My great grandmother used plain white, but I like the flavor of cider vinegar. Taste the cabbage as it cooks and adjust it to your taste.
- Add raisins or cranberries instead of the apple.
- Braise the cabbage in red wine, or port, and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Incorporate a touch of maple syrup for sweetness and bourbon for a smoky depth. Add a pinch of smoked paprika to enhance the flavor.
Braised Red Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 head red cabbage
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 apple, peeled and diced
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar to taste
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the cabbage, cut it in half and remove the white core. Cut it again into quarters. Slice the cabbage as thinly as you can.
- Put the oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot. Add the cabbage, the diced apple, brown sugar and 4 tablespoons of vinegar. Bring the pot to a simmer, stirring often. When the cabbage begins to release its moisture, cover and continue to cook gently for about 20 minutes, or until the cabbage is just tender. Taste and add more vinegar as needed.
- Serve hot, with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Excellent!
Holy Cannolis! Never thought to add a chopped apple ? to the cooked cabbage & now this might be the game changer to get my young adult son on board the Veggie Train when I make it! Terrific, I’m definitely changing it up very soon!
The apple is subtle but really adds a nice bit of sweet, you could even add more to really convince that son of yours!
This was incredible! I loved the flavor. Even one of my pickiest kids was eating it when he thought I wasn’t looking. 🙂 My husband is extremely picky, and he wasn’t a fan, but I think it is delicious and I could eat it all day! Thank you so much for this recipe.
Braised red cabbage is a staple for our Danish contribution to a festive turkey dinner. Maybe because of the Danish version, mine uses butter to add to the traditional white vinegar, grated onion, sugar& grated apples. I braise it slowly for hours and only then add the finishing touch of red currant jelly! Interesting that you liked it with cranberry sauce as they are similar. The leftover red cabbage, slightly warmed, is wonderful on turkey sandwiches!
That’s so interesting about the currant jelly, I’ll have to try that, and you’re right, so similar to cranberry sauce. I’m super inspired by Scandinavian cooking lately, Kareen, and I’m so glad you stopped by!
This year, I have planted some types of vegetables in my home garden, including red cabbage. My children are all interested in the different salads with red cabbage. But I haven’t ever braised it, so I decide to cook this dish for my husband and children when staying home this weekend. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Thanks Emily, and Merry Christmas to you!