Braised Red Cabbage

Braised red cabbage is a tender, flavorful side dish made by slow-cooking red cabbage with apples, onions, vinegar, and warming spices. It's sweet, tangy, and spiced flavors make it a perfect complement to hearty meals and Christmas feasts. A German side dish also known as Rotkohl.

If you’re looking for a Christmas or winter side dish that’s simple, versatile, and absolutely delicious, braised red cabbage checks all the boxes.

Its vibrant color, warm spices, and balance of sweet and tangy flavors make it a standout addition to a meal or your Christmas dinner table.

The combination of tender red cabbage, apples, and warm spices, balanced with a tang of vinegar, creates a rich depth of flavor that’s both comforting and a little bit fancy.

You don’t need any fancy equipment or skills—just a sharp knife, a good pot, and a bit of patience while it simmers on the stove.

Whether you're making a festive holiday spread or just need a cozy weeknight side, this braised red cabbage delivers.

If you're not familiar with it, this 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 a great side dish, perfect along with Nut Roast, Stuffed Butternut Squash, Green Beans Almondine, Parmentier Potatoes, Sauteed Leeks, and Roasted Celeriac.

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 Nov 20 2024!

What is Braised Red Cabbage (rotkhol)

Braised red cabbage is a dish made by slowly cooking thinly sliced red cabbage with ingredients like apples, onions, vinegar, and spices.

This method of cooking—known as braising—uses a combination of liquid and low, steady heat to soften the cabbage and infuse it with flavor.

The result is tender, flavorful cabbage that has a balance of tangy, sweet, and savory notes.

The dish is a staple in many European cuisines, especially German and Scandinavian, where it’s often served as a side to complement hearty mains like roast pork, sausages, or duck.

It’s also a popular addition to holiday meals because of its vibrant color, comforting spices, and ability to pair well with festive dishes.

What Does It Taste Like?

In terms of taste, German red cabbage is a delightful mix of sweet and tangy, thanks to ingredients like apples, vinegar, and sugar, while warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves add a cozy depth.

Christmas Side Dish

This braised red cabbage is considered a Christmas dish in several countries, particularly across Europe. Its festive flavor profile, vibrant color, and warm spices make it a popular side dish during the holiday season. Here’s a look at where it’s most commonly associated with Christmas:

• In Germany, braised red cabbage (Rotkohl or Blaukraut) is a traditional part of Christmas meals. It’s often served alongside roasted goose, duck, or pork, along with dumplings (Knödel) or potatoes.
• In Denmark and Sweden, braised red cabbage (rødkål in Danish, rødkålsalad in Swedish) is a holiday staple. It’s typically served with roast pork or duck and pairs well with the other sweet-savory flavors often found in Nordic Christmas meals, like lingonberry sauce or caramelized potatoes.
• In the UK, braised red cabbage is a common side dish on Christmas Day, often accompanying roast turkey, ham, or beef. The warm spices and tangy-sweet notes complement the traditional roast dinner and festive trimmings.
• In parts of Eastern Europe, braised red cabbage (or similar variations) also features in holiday meals, particularly in Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s often served alongside meats and potatoes as part of a hearty Christmas feast.

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

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

1. Red Cabbage: The star of the dish. Its natural sweetness and vibrant color shine when cooked. Green cabbage can work in a pinch, but you’ll miss the gorgeous hue.
2. Apples: Add sweetness and softness. I like using tart apples like Granny Smith for balance, but any variety works.
3. Red Onion: Adds depth and a mild sweetness. Yellow onions are a good substitute if needed.
4. Water and Red Wine: These provide the cooking liquid. Use water alone if you prefer, but wine adds richness.
5. Red Wine Vinegar: The tangy kick that brightens the dish. Apple cider vinegar is a good swap.
6. Brown Sugar: Balances the acidity and enhances the natural sweetness. Substitute honey or maple syrup if you prefer.
7. Star Anise (Optional): For a subtle licorice-like flavor that feels festive. Skip it if it’s not your thing.
8. Warm Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves create a cozy flavor profile. Adjust to taste if you prefer a milder spice blend.
9. Salt and Pepper: Don’t skimp here; they bring everything together.

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.

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
• Creamy Miso Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar
• 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.

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.

Peel the apples and onion and slice.

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.

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.

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.

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

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📖 Recipe

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.

4.95 from 34 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes 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.