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Braised Red Cabbage

Recipe for a Braised Red Cabbage – it’s the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Vegan & Gluten-free. Easy to make & better than store-bought!

Braised Red Cabbage | ElephantasticVegan.com

Braised Red Cabbage is a wonderful side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. Together with a Stuffed Seitan Roast or veggie sausages and some oven-roasted potatoes and green leafy salads you have the perfect festive combination.

Braised Red Cabbage is pretty easy to make, it takes a bit of time to soften the red cabbage but it’s mostly cooking time that doesn’t need you to stand directly next to it so you can do other tasks (like watching a movie you wanted to watch for too long or playing with your cat) in the meantime.

The Braised Red Cabbage freezes very well, so you can make a big batch and use it for different meals. You can heat it up in a small pot along with a bit of water or apple juice to make it as good as new again.

Braised Red Cabbage | ElephantasticVegan.com

Am I the only one who absolutely loves the inside of a red cabbage? I think it’s one of the prettiest veggies :)

Braised Red Cabbage | ElephantasticVegan.com

Don’t worry too much about the size of the apple slices. You won’t notice them in the final dish because they cook down, but don’t leave them out either – the apple flavor is key. I’ve used red apples that are a bit on the sweeter side.

Braised Red Cabbage | ElephantasticVegan.com

Want some inspiration on what to do with the Braised Red Cabbage? I’ve eaten it with weirdly real-looking TVP slices (beef-style) and some oven-roasted potatoes, coated in salt, paprika, and dried rosemary.

Braised Red Cabbage | ElephantasticVegan.com

Braised Red Cabbage

Elephantastic Vegan
Recipe for a Braised Red Cabbage – it’s the perfect side dish for thanksgiving and christmas! Vegan & Gluten-free.
4.67 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Vegan
Servings 4
Calories 122 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 red cabbage
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 apple
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon vegan apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 teaspoon organic rice syrup
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 4 cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Peel and chop the onion. Wash the cabbage and the apple and thinly slice* them (leave out the core).
  • In a large pot, heat the canola oil and add in the chopped onions. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until soft.
  • Add in the sliced cabbage and apple and give it a good stir. Mix in the water, apple cider vinegar, rice syrup, salt, cloves and bay leaves. Give it a good mix, cover it with the lid, reduce the heat a bit and let it simmer for about 40 minutes until the cabbage is soft and the water has evaporated. Stir every now and then.
  • Once the cabbage is tender, add in the lemon juice, remove the bay leaves (and the cloves if you can find them) before serving and add additional salt to taste.

Notes

*I used a mandoline slicer.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSodium: 1227mgPotassium: 598mgFiber: 6gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 2365IUVitamin C: 123.9mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 1.8mg
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Recipe Rating




Emily

Thursday 18th of June 2020

I liked this recipe a lot with a minor tweak. I substituted for canola oil - EVOO (best grade - organic) and maintained heat on low. I also used Manuka Honey (using low heat) instead of the rice syrup I ended up using a touch more honey and ACV to taste, and 2 apples instead of one. I thought this recipe was one of the healthier ones out there.

Craig

Tuesday 9th of February 2016

The ingredient list calls for ½ teaspoon lime juice but the instructions state lemon juice...which should be used?

Bianca

Wednesday 10th of February 2016

Good call, Craig! It should be lemon juice :) Fixed it, thanks for pointing it out!

Kat

Sunday 22nd of November 2015

What kind of Apple is used in this recipe?

Bianca

Sunday 22nd of November 2015

Hi Kat! I've used a Jonagold apple. :)

Audrey @ Unconventional Baker

Friday 6th of November 2015

I love the addition of apple in there. Would never have thought of that, but that sounds wonderful with the cabbage <3

Bianca

Friday 6th of November 2015

I think it's not that uncommon to add an apple to red cabbage - it adds such a lovely sweet flavor. My mother used to make it like that (when I was still eating at home :D )

Strength and Sunshine

Saturday 31st of October 2015

Well I am loving the apple! Such a perfect sweetness!

Bianca

Sunday 1st of November 2015

Thanks, Rebecca! The apple provides a great additional flavor to the red cabbage :) Super yummy and a bit christmas-y with the cloves ^.^