Braised red cabbage recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Maayke · 1 Comment · This post may contain affiliate links

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This easy braised red cabbage recipe is the perfect fall side dish. Pair this sweet and sour vegetable with your roast chicken or a beef stew for a healthy winter dinner.

Braised red cabbage recipe (1)

Red cabbage recipes are popular all year, but recipes for braised cabbage are especially popular in winter around Christmas and Thanksgiving. It is definitely one of my childhood favorites, and I'm super excited to share my red cabbage recipe with you!

How to cook braised red cabbage

Before cooking, you should take out the core and remove the outer leaves. You can do this by cutting the cabbage into quarters and cutting out the white core. Thinly slice the cabbage with a knife or a food processor.

Chop the onions and peel, core, and dice the apple. Heat some butter or oil in a large saucepan and add the apple and onions. Add the cinnamon, pepper, and salt and bake them on medium heat until they become soft.

Add the cabbage, water, lemon juice, or vinegar and reduce the heat. Let the cabbage simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes until the cabbage becomes tender. Taste and add some more salt or pepper if you need to.

Serve your red cabbage as a side with a stew, roast chicken, hachee, Irish stew, potatoes, salmon, and all your other winter favorites!

Ingredients

Braised red cabbage recipe (2)
  • Red cabbage - use a nice firm cabbage.
  • Lemon juice or vinegar - this preserves the beautiful purple color and gives the cabbage a slightly sour flavor.
  • Sugar - helps to give the dish its sweet and sour flavor.
  • Apple - use sweet apples like Elstar or Golden Delicious.
  • Cinnamon - gives the cabbage a nice warm flavor.

My tips for the best braised red cabbage

  • Try other spices like star anise, mustard seeds, or nutmeg.
  • You can keep it in the fridge for about three days and up to 3 months in the freezer.
  • You can easily half this recipe. Save your leftover cabbage in the fridge, or turn it into cabbage slaw!

FAQ

Can braised red cabbage be frozen?

Yes, absolutely! You can keep it in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag in the freezer for three months. If you want to thaw the cabbage, put it directly in a pan with some water and let it heat up on low heat or in a microwave.

Can I use other types of cabbage for this recipe?

I don't recommend using this exact recipe for other types of cabbage.

Do I have to use lemon juice or vinegar?

The short answer is no. You don't have to use vinegar or lemon juice. You add this to preserve the beautiful red color.

What goes well with braised red cabbage?

I love to serve this recipe with roast chicken or beef stew and baked potatoes, but all your winter recipes go well with this dish!

Can this braised red cabbage be made ahead?

Yes! You can make this recipe up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.

What kind of vinegar should I use?

Any kind of vinegar will work. I like to use red wine vinegar, but balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or regular white vinegar will work as well.

Can I make this recipe in advance?

Yes! You can make this up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.

More delicious vegetable side dishes

Waldorf salad with chicken

Classic Greek salad (horiatiki)

Braised red cabbage recipe (3)

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5 from 17 votes

Braised red cabbage with apple

This easy braised red cabbage recipe is the perfect fall side dish. Pair this sweet andsour vegetable with your roast chicken for a healthy meal.

Prep time 10 minutes mins

Bereiding 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 portions

Calories: 201kcal

Author: Maayke @ Nutmeg and Vinegar

Ingredients

  • 1 red cabbage cored and thinly sliced
  • 2 apples diced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the onion and the apple.

  • When softened, add the cabbage, water, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, pepper, and salt.

  • Bring to a boil and let the cabbage simmer for 25-30 minutes until tender.

  • Season with salt and pepper.

Notes

  • Try some other spices like nutmeg, anise seed, or mustard seed.
  • Apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar are also great!
  • You can keep this in the fridge for three days and in the freezer for up to 3 months

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 2569IU | Vitamin C: 129mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 2mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Katerina says

    This recipe definitely reminds me of my childhood too and I haven't thought to make it for so long! Thank you for the reminder and inspiration, I am looking forward to trying out this recipe!

    Reply

Braised red cabbage recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is braised red cabbage good for you? ›

It is also thought to deter cancer, prevent diabetes, slow down the onset of Alzheimer's, and detoxify the body. It is also good for skin and eye care, weight loss, improving heart health and boosting the immune system. An extraordinary vegetable indeed!

Can you buy braised red cabbage? ›

Suitable for Vegans. Free From: Artificial Colours, Artificial Flavours.

How long will braised red cabbage keep in the fridge? ›

Cook for 1½ hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until reduced and tender. Serve immediately or cool and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat to serve, adding a splash of water if it seems dry.

How long does it take to boil red cabbage? ›

How do you boil red cabbage? Red cabbage can also be boiled. To preserve the crunch, cook in salted boiling water with a teaspoon of vinegar for 5 minutes unless a softer consistency is desired in which case cook for a little longer.

What effects does red cabbage have on the body? ›

In addition to these, red cabbage intake helps to improve skin and eye health, makes your bones stronger, eliminates toxic substances from the body, prevents diabetes and also takes care of your heart. Including red cabbage in your diet may help to treat ulcers and delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Can you eat too much red cabbage? ›

While cabbage offers lots of vitamins and minerals your body needs, there can be a downside to eating cabbage. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. It's best to slowly introduce these vegetables into your diet and gradually increase your intake.

Why is my braised red cabbage bitter? ›

Why is my cooked cabbage bitter? The most common error in cooking cabbage occurs when it is over cooked or in water. You should be cooking it dry, as in no water. Use a good quality oil and caramelize your thinly sliced cabbage it will not get bitter.

Why is my braised cabbage bitter? ›

One common reason is that the cabbage may have been overcooked. Overcooking cabbage releases sulfur compounds that can give it a bitter taste. Another possible reason is that the cabbage was not fresh. Old or spoiled cabbage can also taste bitter.

Why is red cabbage so expensive? ›

Generally, cabbage needs a lot of water to grow and if there's not enough it can't reach reach its full bloom. Thus, this leads to a shortage of cabbage, leading its prices to go up. Cabbage is a crop that grows best during specific times, making it challenging for farmers.

When red cabbage goes bad? ›

Cabbage with an off smell should be discarded immediately. You'll also be able to tell when cabbage has spoiled if the leaves have become soft and discolored. It's best to refer to the old adage: when in doubt, throw it out.

Can you reheat braised red cabbage? ›

Stir in the cranberry sauce and cook for another 25 minutes. Season well and stir through a knob of butter before serving. You can also store it somewhere cool for a couple of days, then reheat to serve, if you prefer, adding the butter during the reheating.

Why does red cabbage take so long to cook? ›

The central vein in each leaf is tough, particularly on the outer leaves, so you may wish to cut this away, too, especially if you want to cook the cabbage quickly as this part is very dense and will take a long time.

What happens when you add vinegar to red cabbage? ›

When cooked in an alkaline liquid like water, red cabbage turns blue. Adding vinegar, lemon juice, or another acid helps the cabbage to retain its red-purple color.

How do you know when red cabbage is cooked? ›

Red cabbage will often turn blue when cooked. To avoid losing the red color, place vinegar in the water when boiling.

Is it better to boil or steam red cabbage? ›

Steaming is an indirect cooking process which means delicate ingredients can be gently cooked to retain their flavour and nutrients. The benefit of steaming cabbage is that it doesn't produce the unpleasant smell associated with boiled cabbage.

What is the healthiest way to eat red cabbage? ›

You can add this versatile vegetable to soups, stews, salads, and coleslaw. It's delicious raw, steamed, sautéed, or fermented. It retains the most nutrients when it's eaten raw but is still highly nutritious when cooked. The flavor becomes a little milder when you cook it.

What is the nutritional value of braised red cabbage? ›

Cook Braised Red Cabbage (1 portion) contains 15g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 2.3g fat, 1.5g protein, and 99 calories.

Is eating red cabbage everyday good for you? ›

The whopping amounts of essential minerals in red cabbage makes it one of the best vegetable to have that ensure healthy bone development. The richness of minerals like calcium, magnesium, manganese promotes bone growth and mineral density that guards against osteoporosis, arthritis and other inflammation.

Can you eat red cabbage everyday? ›

The same goes for other cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, cabbage, and brussels sprouts. You CAN eat cabbage every day, but you should NOT eat it exclusively like some people do when they go on those crazy all cabbage diets.

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