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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Braised Red Cabbage

    Published: Nov 23, 2021 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Bowl of cooked cabbage with text: How to make braised red cabbage.
    Pictures of cabbage with text Holiday Braised Red Cabbage.
    Bowl of spiced cabbage with text: Braise Red Cabbage.
    pinnable image for braised red cabbage recipe

    Braised Red Cabbage is an easy, tasty traditional side dish! It's perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas or any time. Cabbage, apples, and spices all mingle together in this vibrant holiday recipe.

    Table with a dish of spiced red cabbage.

    Braised Red Cabbage is an absolute delight. It not only adds a bright purple color to your meal, but it's full of spice flavors.

    If you've ever tried braised red cabbage, then I'm sure you've fallen in love with this simple, flavorful side dish.

    Red cabbage with apples is a traditional sweet and sour recipe that usually accompanies a roast and is commonly served as a side dish at Christmas dinner in Germany, the United Kingdom and around the world.

    It's bright purple, has a glorious texture and the flavour of the cabbage is perfect with the apples and warming spices.

    It's a great side dish, perfect along with Green Beans Almondine, Parmentier Potatoes, Sauteed Leeks, and Roasted Celeriac.

    Be sure to check out these other Red Cabbage Recipes.

    This braised red cabbage recipe was originally published on November 27 2019 and republished with step by step images, new photos and revised text on November 23 2021.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Can you freeze braised red cabbage?
    • Reheating
    • How long does it keep (in the fridge)?
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Festive Side Dishes
    • How to make braised red cabbage
    • Red Cabbage Recipes
    • Holiday Side Dishes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love this recipe

    • Perfect side dish for the holidays
    • You can make it ahead and just heat it up on the day - a great time saver for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
    • Freezable
    • Easy to make
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-free
    • It's sweet from the apples and spices, and tangy from the vinegar - a flavor explosion!
    Ingredients on a table.

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for this red cabbage side dish!

    Red Cabbage - it's more like purple cabbage, but it gives the dish its classic flavor and color.

    Apples - for flavor and texture.

    Red onion - to add flavor and more purple color to the dish.

    Red wine (or additional water) - a little red wine adds richness and great flavor.

    Brown sugar - for rich sweetness.

    Red wine vinegar - to balance the sweeter flavors of the dish and brighten it.

    Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Star Anise - an incredible, warming blend of spices.

    Can you freeze braised red cabbage?

    This dish is freezable. Just be sure it is completely cooled, then place into freezable container(s) and freeze for up to 3 months.

    To use, simply thaw (in the fridge or on the counter), then reheat in a pan on the stove.

    Close up of braised red cabbage in a bowl.

    Reheating

    I always make this recipe ahead of time, especially at Christmas. I tend to make it 2-3 days before Christmas and store it in the fridge. Then just heat it in a pan on the stove. You may need to add a little water.

    You can also reheat the cabbage side dish in a microwave. This is very useful if you're using all of your stove elements for Christmas dinner!

    How long does it keep (in the fridge)?

    You can keep the spiced cabbage side dish in the fridge for up to 7 days. This means it's great for the holidays and saves you making one side dish on the day! Reheat as instructed above.

    Serving Suggestions

    Traditionally, this spiced red cabbage with apples is served over the holidays with a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. It is often served with roast dinners too.

    We love having it along with all the Christmas dinner leftovers. It brightens up the plate and tastes so festive.

    But I'm sure you'll love this dish so much that you'll want to serve it far more often!

    Festive Side Dishes

    If you're looking for other great gluten-free vegan side dishes, try these!

    Green beans almondine

    Baby hasselback potatoes

    Parmentier potatoes

    Garlic stuffed mushrooms

    Caponata alla Siciliana

    Cauliflower Cheese

    How to make braised red cabbage

    This side dish is super easy to make. You can slice the cabbage by hand, or use a mandoline or food processor.

    Shredding cabbage with a knife.

    Simply slice the cabbage into thin strips. You can do this with a sharp knife, carefully, or use a mandoline or slicing blade in a food processor.

    Slicing onions and apples.

    Peel the apples and onion and slice.

    Ingredients in a large pot.

    Add the cabbage apples and onions to a pot, along with the water, wine and vinegar.

    Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low, give it a stir, cover with a lid and simmer for 45 minutes.
    Tip: Stir the pot occasionally so it doesn’t scorch. If necessary, add a little extra water.

    Adding spices to the pot.

    Stir in the sugar, star anise (if using) and spices, season with salt and pepper, cover with the lid and simmer for a further 20 minutes or until the cabbage and apples are soft.

    Serve immediately or keep in the fridge. You can also cool completely and freeze for later.
    NOTE: scroll down for the full recipe in the recipe card.

    Cooked red cabbage in a pot.

    Red Cabbage Recipes

    Looking for more red cabbage recipes? Try these! They're a great way to use up the budget-friendly and nutritious cruciferous vegetables.

    • Cabbage Salad
    • Red cabbage and sprout tart
    • Red cabbage sauerkraut
    • Pickled red cabbage
    • Red cabbage soup

    Holiday Side Dishes

    Braised red cabbage is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. Be sure to also check out these other holiday sides.

    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar
    • Vegan Stuffing with Sage
    • Easy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Maple Glazed Carrots with Cayenne

    Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this food blog. I love sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes with you all.
    Kate x

    Veggie Desserts Cookbook by Kate Hackworthy

    Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon

    📖 Recipe

    Bowl of braised red cabbage on a table.

    Braised Red Cabbage

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    Braised Red Cabbage is my favourite easy, tasty traditional side dish! It's perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas or any time. Cabbage, apples and spices all mingle together in this vibrant recipe.
    4.92 from 25 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British, German, International
    Servings 6
    Calories 101 kcal

    Equipment

    • Knife
    • Pot

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 red cabbage
    • 2 apples
    • 1 red onion
    • ⅔ cup (150ml) water
    • ⅓ cup (75ml) red wine or additional water
    • ¼ cup (50ml) red wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 star anise optional
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • Salt and pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Wash the cabbage, remove any old outer leaves and cut out the core. Slice the cabbage into quarters, then slice each quarter thinly.
    • Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Peel, halve and finely slice the onion.
    • Add the cabbage, apples and onion to a pot, along with the water, wine and vinegar. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low, give it a stir, cover with a lid and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pot. If necessary, add a little extra water.
    • Stir in the sugar, star anise (if using) and spices, season with salt and pepper, cover with the lid and simmer for a further 20 minutes or until the cabbage and apples are soft.
    • Serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 41mgPotassium: 431mgFiber: 5gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 1593IUVitamin C: 84mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

    More Side Dish Recipes

    • Broccoli and Cheese Sauce
    • Easy Baked Polenta Fries
    • Crock Pot Black Beans
    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. veenaazmanov

      November 23, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      Combination of Cabbage and Apples sounds good. Love the color. This side dish looks tasty.

      Reply
    2. Natalie

      November 23, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      I usually get braised cabbage from the store but this year I'm going to make this homemade version. Looks delicious and super easy to make. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.

      Reply
    3. Vega

      May 20, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      I tried slicing then microwaving in water, toknock some preparation time off. Then caramelizing the cabbage & onion in a pan. Was really good.

      Reply
      • Vegan Cook US

        April 20, 2021 at 4:10 pm

        4 stars
        I actually roasted the cabbage & onion to soften them & it worked out better. I did add a little water, or even apple juice, to keep them moist.

        Reply
    4. Tavo

      December 13, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      So yummy! I loved all the spices. Never thought of adding them to cabbage and it came out delicious!

      Reply
    5. Danielle Wolter

      December 03, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      5 stars
      What a great recipe! I just love braised cabbage. The flavors in this are perfect.

      Reply
    6. Gina

      November 30, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      Love the combo of cabbage and apples - this has become one of my favorite winter side dishes!

      Reply
    7. Alisa Infanti

      December 01, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is definitely something different for me but I was looking for something a little more healthy with a great pop of colour for our holiday table. Tested it out last night and it is amazing!

      Reply
    8. Noelle

      November 29, 2019 at 6:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe, I have never made anything like this before but it was a hit for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
    9. Anita

      November 27, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      5 stars
      This cabbage salad is easy to prepare, looks pretty, and tastes yummy. I can see this appearing often for all king of festive dinners at home. 🙂

      Reply
    10. Vicky

      November 27, 2019 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      What a great side dish to a turkey dinner. I love how the color just adds a festive touch to a holiday table as well. I'm excited to make this for my family!

      Reply
    11. Beth

      November 27, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      I prefer red cabbage over green so really loving this side dish! The flavor with the wine, spices and apples is perfect!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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