Description
This classic Braised Red Cabbage recipe is a flavorful, tender side dish perfect for holiday meals or comforting everyday dinners. Sweet and tangy with warm spices, slow-cooked cabbage is layered with apples, onions, garlic, and aromatic spices, then gently cooked in the oven until melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Vegetables and Fruit
- 500 g red cabbage, sliced finely
- 2 small red onions or 1 large onion, diced finely
- 1 large Bramley apple, diced finely
- 1 clove garlic, diced finely or crushed
Dry Ingredients and Spices
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cloves, ground
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
- 10 g butter
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Finely slice the red cabbage, dice the onions and apple, and crush or finely dice the garlic. In a small bowl, mix together ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and brown sugar.
- Preheat Oven and Assemble Layers: Preheat your oven to 160°C (140°C fan) or 325°F/gas mark 3. In a large casserole dish, arrange about a quarter of the sliced cabbage as the base layer.
- Add Spiced Layers: Sprinkle over about one third of the diced onions, one third of the diced apple, one third of the garlic, and one third of the spice and sugar mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat the layering process two more times, finishing with the remaining cabbage on top.
- Add Liquid and Butter: Pour over 3 tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar to help preserve the cabbage’s vibrant color and add tangy flavor. Dot the top with approximately 10 grams of butter.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish tightly with its lid or foil if you don’t have a lid. Bake in the preheated oven for 2½ hours. Stir the cabbage twice during cooking to ensure even braising.
- Serve or Store: Serve the braised red cabbage immediately as a delicious side dish, or let it cool before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. It flavors deepen wonderfully when made ahead.
Notes
- This braised red cabbage is a festive favorite, especially around Christmas, but it’s simple enough for any meal.
- It’s a fantastic make-ahead dish that stores well for a couple of days in the fridge.
- The wine vinegar is essential to keep the cabbage bright and enhance flavor, so don’t skip this step.
- Stirring occasionally during braising helps even cooking and prevents sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 43 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 18 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg
