Onion-free Garlic-free

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples

Red cabbage slowly braised with tart apples, cider vinegar, caraway and a pinch of cloves until silky, sweet and tangy. A make-ahead autumn side.

Prep
15 min
Cook
45 min
Total
1 hr
Serves
6
Illustration of Braised Red Cabbage with Apples, drawn from its ingredients
Cook's note

The vinegar keeps the cabbage a vivid magenta, so add it early. This tastes even better the next day: reheat gently with a splash of water. It is wonderful beside roast pork, roast chicken or a fried egg.

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.

  2. Add the cabbage a handful at a time, stirring until each addition wilts slightly to make room for the next, about .

  3. Stir in the apples, vinegar, water, brown sugar, caraway, bay leaf, cloves and salt.

  4. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over medium-low heat for , stirring every , until the cabbage is very tender and the liquid has mostly cooked off.

  5. Uncover for the last if the pot looks wet. Stir in the jelly until melted and glossy.

  6. Discard the bay leaf, taste, and add a splash more vinegar or a pinch more salt if needed. Serve warm.

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Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
Step 1 of 6

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.

Step 2 of 6

Add the cabbage a handful at a time, stirring until each addition wilts slightly to make room for the next, about .

Step 3 of 6

Stir in the apples, vinegar, water, brown sugar, caraway, bay leaf, cloves and salt.

Step 4 of 6

Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over medium-low heat for , stirring every , until the cabbage is very tender and the liquid has mostly cooked off.

Step 5 of 6

Uncover for the last if the pot looks wet. Stir in the jelly until melted and glossy.

Step 6 of 6

Discard the bay leaf, taste, and add a splash more vinegar or a pinch more salt if needed. Serve warm.

All done

Dig in.

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