Braised Red Cabbage With Apples Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Braised Red Cabbage With Apples Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
5(2,133)
Notes
Read community notes

This is an adaptation of a classic cabbage dish that I never tire of. The cabbage cooks for a long time, until it is very tender and sweet. I like to serve this with bulgur, or as a side dish with just about anything. You can halve the quantities if you don’t want to make such a large amount.

Featured in: Red Cabbage: Versatile, Economical — and Tasty

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

  • 1large red cabbage, 2 to 2½ pounds, quartered, cored and cut crosswise in thin strips
  • 2tablespoons canola oil
  • 1small onion, thinly sliced
  • 2tart apples, such as Braeburn or granny smith, peeled, cored and sliced
  • About ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼teaspoon ground allspice
  • Salt
  • freshly ground pepper to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

102 calories; 4 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 10 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 453 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Braised Red Cabbage With Apples Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Prepare the cabbage, and cover with cold water while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, lidded skillet or casserole, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until just about tender, about three minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the balsamic vinegar and cook, stirring, until the mixture is golden, about three minutes, then add the apples and stir for two to three minutes.

  2. Drain the cabbage and add to the pot. Toss to coat thoroughly, then stir in the allspice, another 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, and salt to taste. Toss together. Cover the pot, and cook over low heat for one hour, stirring from time to time. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt, and add another tablespoon or two of balsamic vinegar as desired.

Tip

  • Advance preparation:This dish tastes even better the day after you make it, and it will keep for five days in the refrigerator. Reheat gently.Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.

Ratings

5

out of 5

2,133

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Meri

Didn't have any allspice, so I used ground cloves. Be sure to soak the shredded cabbage in cold water as suggested in Step 1. The cabbage absorbs water, which is then released in cooking, and helps to steam the cabbage for utmost tenderness.

I'm thinking of adding a tablespoon of butter just before serving.

Beth

The braised cabbage tastes even better the next day & the day after that. I decided to use 3 apples the second time I made this dish. One of my favorite go to Fall comfort foods!

Betsy B

Adjusted by making in the instant pot. Sautéed as directed, then cooked on low pressure for 15 minutes, 10 minutes slow pressure release. Was wonderful and quick.

Anna L.

Made this several times, super easy & the flavor is even better the next day. Don't be shy about adding water to make sure things don't burn/dry out. I like my braised red cabbage suuupppeerrr soft so I cook it covered for a while, going until I am satisfied with the texture. A little bit of brown sugar and pomegranate molasses absolutely ups the sweet/sour flavors.

AAD

Enjoyed it very much, cut the recipe in half since there are only two of us, popped a couple of sausages on top, great combo. I also had some reduced cider, added that , nice bit of semi-sweetness to the whole mixture.

Sara

similar but different - and still easy, healthy and delicious:Slice cabbage, apples and onionsIn big pot on top of stove:Layer like a lasagna:1 layer of the sliced cabbage, 1 layer of the sliced apples, 1 layer of onionsIn between each layer season with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, pepper, salt Layer to the top of the pot.Pour over a couple of cups of good red wine and cook until soft.Nothing else.

Carrie

I make this as a side dish to have with pierogies and add dollops of plain Greek yogurt on top. So perfect.

Lisa

This tasted great and worked just as well with green cabbage.

Stephanie

I can agree with everyone here that this is such a nice way to cook red cabbage, and no added sugar! I have made it twice, once following the cook time listed and then once when I was pressed for time and only had it on the stove for 30 mins. I have to say, I loved the toothiness (just a little) the cabbage still has with a shorter cook time. I think, for me, the cabbage breaks down too much if cooked longer.

Anna

Chopped onion and apple, cabbage sliced added after slightly cooking those splashed in a bit of the vinegar for sweet-sour -- then the cabbage, flavored with additional vinegar,bay leaf, cloves (ground), honey, extra water.. all cooked off as if to carmelize further). Would serve with either potato dumplings as in sauerbraten with, or Czech stale bread dumplings - knedlicky (King Aruthur flour for taste), schnitzel or sauerbraten if desired, applesauce/sauteed apples cucumber salad..YUM.

Rosie

Made this last night to serve with some bacon wrapped pork chops. We halved the recipe because it was just three of us and we all loved it. I followed the recipe as is with no changes other than a longer cooking time (just kept it on a back burner on warm/very low after the initial hour on low). We would make this again. Thank you.

Linda

Absolutely delicious! I’m making it for the second time, and we can’t wait to eat it again! I wonder if some golden raisins would add to the dish? Haven’t tried it, but welcome what others think.

Emc

I use 3 or 4 apples and a purple onion; substitute coconut oil for canola oil; add a chunk of french butter along with the apples; add cinammon and a small amount of honey along with the allspice.Really delicious recipe.

Condiment queen

Shortcuts: Used three 8-ounce bags of shredded red cabbage and skipped peeling the apples. Excellent! Not cloyingly sweet, like some recipes.

AvanB2

Add raisins during cooking!

Erin

I will never made boiled cabbage as a side for corned beef again! This was such a fantastic, easy, light and tasty side dish. I'm excited to try it again today, as it seems the flavors are even better after a day or so. Definitely not just for St. Patrick's day, this is going to be part of the normal rotation now.

LK

Add half a bottle of red wine while the cabbage is cooking!

Gary R.

This recipe is rather similar to one for cabbage, created by my wife's maternal grandmother, herself a 1930s immigrant from Central Europe. As it turns out, she was a notoriously horrible cook--she burned (or grossly undercooked) nearly everything. BUT, one of the few happy surprises from her kitchen was an amazing rendition of sweet and sour red cabbage--as you might expect, the 'secret' ingredient was to burn the bejeebers out of it--not once, but TWICE.

Brooklynite

I've made a version of this for years - caraway seeds instead of allspice, and ACV instead of balsamic. I'll try with balsamic.

CMN

Made as is but added some cubed beets. Amazing.

Melissa

More spice. Like double.

Kara

Okay. I finally made this and it was a bit bland to me. I enhanced it with butter, brown sugar and a bit of cinnamon. Much improved! Next time I'll definitely replace the canola oil with butter and use red onion instead of yellow.

Erika Shaffer

loved this - of course I didn't have enough balsamic. used some other vinegars and also threw in some caraway seeds. Made to go with corned venison!

kahyatonhsera

I used butter in place of canola oil, and three apples instead of two. My balsamic was a bit too sweet to get the touch of vinegar sharpness I wanted, so I added two Tbsp of white wine vinegar. Nice side with pork tenderloin and potatoes au gratin.

Kara

The salt thing is too vague. It's helpful to know exactly how much salt is needed.

Richard Arnold

Not as spicy and sweet-sour as my German grandmother made it, but I prefer this milder flavored recipe!

bd

I thought it was a little bland, so I added a dash of red pepper, cumin and five spice powder-- just a little, but perked it up.

zeynep

Made it for Christmas. It was really better the next day. I also put a stick of cinnamon. Very delicious and tender.

Alexandra

Tried Quinces instead of apples, the second time I made this. Cooks slightly longer (and is hard to prepare/chop). But the the taste was great! Interesting flavour, intensely quincy smell.

JP

I thought this was too sweet. A couple of tablespoons of lemon juice really helped.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Braised Red Cabbage With Apples Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with braised red cabbage? ›

Braised red cabbage is a delicious accompaniment to the gamey flavour of a slow reared breed of turkey at Christmas, but it could also be served with beef, belly pork, duck or other game such as venison grouse, or wood pigeon. The health benefits of eating red cabbage are quite extraordinary.

How long can you keep braised red cabbage 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.

Why 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.

Does red cabbage cook the same as regular cabbage? ›

Red Cabbage vs.

Red and green cabbage can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The difference between cooking green cabbage and red cabbage is just one extra step. The compounds that give red cabbage its color, called anthocyanins, are water-soluble and will turn an unappetizing blue color when cooked.

What does cooked red cabbage do for your body? ›

Red cabbage is a nutrient-rich vegetable which has been linked to a number of health benefits including inflammation, a healthier heart, improved gut function and a lower risk of certain cancers.

Why is my braised cabbage bitter? ›

The bitterness comes from chemical compounds called glucosinolates that can be found in the Brassica family. According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, these compounds have been known to have anti-cancer properties.

How can you tell if red cabbage has gone bad? ›

You may also notice a strange or off smell if red cabbage is spoiling. Red cabbage should feel firm and robust, but if it starts to feel slimy or overly soft, it's likely past its prime. In any of these cases, it's best to discard the cabbage. Always store red cabbage in the fridge.

What meat goes with red cabbage? ›

Red cabbage can stand up to a whole host of flavours from soy sauce in an Asian salad to heady spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Onions, sweet apples and raisins also bring out the best in this earthy vegetable which goes beautifully with meats such as pork, duck, venison, partridge and sausages.

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 does lemon juice do to red cabbage? ›

Substances such as lemon juice and vinegar turn the cabbage juice red because they are acidic. Ammonia turns the cabbage juice into a blue/green color because it is a base, a material that tastes bitter and makes an acid neutral.

What does baking soda do to red cabbage? ›

By itself, the cabbage liquid is a pretty purple color. Acidic vinegar turns the dye pink, while adding alkaline baking soda turns the dye a blue color. If enough baking soda is added, the blue dye will dry a greenish color.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

Which is healthier, red or green cabbage? ›

But red cabbage has higher levels of some types of antioxidants than other types of cabbage. These nutrients are thought to help reduce the risk of health conditions such as cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Red cabbage is particularly rich in anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoid.

Can cabbage lower blood pressure? ›

The antioxidants in cabbage help reduce inflammation, which is linked to heart disease. Cabbage also contains something called anthocyanins. Several studies have found these compounds can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Can I just boil red cabbage? ›

The simplest way to cook red cabbage is to boil it - put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water, bring to the boil, and cook for three to five minutes or until tender. It can also be steamed – around five minutes in a steamer should be sufficient for soft, tender leaves.

What meat do you serve with red cabbage? ›

Sweet and sour red cabbage is a perfect side dish for sausages, pork chops, schnitzel or German pork burgers. This braised cabbage also pairs well with roast chicken, duck, and roast beef.

What does pickled red cabbage go with? ›

Added to sandwiches: BBQ (like pulled pork or my BBQ Lentils with Shredded Carrots), burgers, or fish. As part of a charcuterie board or vegetable platter. On top of bowls, like my Deconstructed Spring Roll in a Bowl or Salmon Teriyaki Bowl with Veggies.

What reacts with red cabbage? ›

The color of the cabbage indicator will change to red or pink if the solution is an acid and it will change to green or yellow if it is a base. It will remain purple or blue if the test solution is neutral.

Is braised cabbage healthy for you? ›

Cabbage is high in Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Vitamin C helps heal wounds and maintains healthy gums, skin and blood. Vitamin K helps the body clot blood, build strong bones, and keep the heart healthy. It is also a good source of fiber, which helps you stay full longer and maintains bowel function.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6099

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.