Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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My daughter just came out of her room and says “the house smells like Christmas, how long have I been studying?” It’s true, even though red cabbage doesn’t take much time to make, and fits with a lot of different meats… in our house, I usually make it for the holidays. My German red cabbage recipe is actually my mother’s red cabbage recipe. Only, this year I realized it was time to measure things and write them down (well, mostly… how much wine goes into the red cabbage versus how much goes in to the chef is entirely your choice). Then of course, I forgot to take photos (Christmas time is crazy enough without me trying to photograph every meal…). So today, a random Wednesday, we are having red cabbage with dinner! And the house smells like Christmas.

Rotkohl or Blaukraut

Just like Potato Salad, there are approximately 954,507 ways to make German Red Cabbage. Some people make it with bacon, or added pork fats, and I’ve seen recipes that add cornstarch to thicken it. Some are cooked long, some short. Red Cabbage even comes with different names depending on where you are in Germany. At Christmas in OUR house it was Rotkohl (red cabbage), on alternate Christmas’s in my Bavarian god-mother’s house, it was Blau Kraut (blue cabbage).

This recipe that I grew up with isn’t cooked down as far, and since there is no meat, it works as a nice vegetarian side dish (leave out the butter, and it’s vegan). Sweetness comes from sugar, tartness from Apples and Apple Cider vinegar. And red wine mellows the flavor (and the cook).

Note- The Red Wine is optional, so I leave it to you. Just know that the alcohol from the Red Wine will burn off, so you don’t have to worry about serving to kids.

Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (1)

Make Red Cabbage Ahead of Time!

You can shred the cabbage in NO TIME AT ALL if you use a Food Processor. Even with the bigger one, you might have to empty the bowl twice. I use the Cuisinart… because it has easy to clean off press-buttons, and the parts go into the dishwasher.

Once the cabbage is cooking, you don’t have to stand over it. Just let it cook and break down the onions and apples (I swear, they VANISH… which is nice, because the kids can’t possibly pick the onions out. Instead, they fuss about the cloves). Stir occasionally. Taste towards the end and add any extra vinegar or sugar that might be missing. Letting it sit for a while in the pot after it’s done cooking will let the flavors mellow. To me it’s better the next day (maybe that’s because my mother always cooked the red cabbage the day before Christmas to free a spot on the stove ON Christmas).

It also freezes very well. Just put it in containers… LABEL IT (no, you won’t remember what’s in the package)… and when you are ready to eat thaw and heat.

This red cabbage recipe makes around 7 cups of cooked cabbage.

German Red Cabbage Recipe

Serve with Roasts, Rouladen, Christmas Goose, or Duck.

Oma's German Red Cabbage Recipe

Red Cabbage shows up on our holiday table every time. Luckily, it's easy to make, and you can make it ahead of time to make holiday cooking easier.

Adjust the recipe to your taste.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Cuisine German

Servings 14

Ingredients

  • 1 Head of Red Cabbage
  • 1 medium yellow Onion
  • 1-2 Apples sour ones, like a Granny Smith
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 8-10 whole cloves
  • 2 Tablespoon Sugar
  • 2-3 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt to start
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper or a few Peppercorns
  • optional- Red Wine I used a Merlot use 1/4 to 1/2 cup.

Instructions

  • Set a pot on the stove (I used my soup pot to cook the Cabbage, so it wouldn't get crowded.)

  • Add about an inch of water.

  • Peel off the outer layers of the red cabbage if they look damaged.

  • Cut the cabbage in half, and remove the core.

  • Then slice the cabbage into thin shreds (about 1/4 inch?). I use a food processor, so it goes fast, but you can use a knife.

  • Dice the Onion

  • Peel and dice the Apple/s

  • Add the red cabbage, onion, and apples to the pot.

  • Add the butter, bay leaves, cloves, sugar, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar and wine to the pot.

  • Bring the water to a boil, stir everything together.

  • Reduce heat to simmer, stir again

  • cover and let cook for 30-40 minutes.

  • Check it from time to time. Stir.

  • At around 30 minutes, taste it.

  • Add sugar or vinegar to taste

  • Add some wine for color and flavor.

  • At around 45 minutes check again.

  • This is as far as I usually cook it. If you like it softer, cook it another 15 minutes.

  • From this point you can serve it.

  • Or let it cool, and reheat later.

  • Or let it cool, and freeze it in smaller portions.

Notes

This is a basic recipe for German Red Cabbage. Feel free to adjust it to your personal taste. Add more sugar or vinegar.... add more red wine.

Keep in mind, the flavors deepen after it sits a bit. If you make it one day, it will taste better the day after.

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Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (3)Easy German Cookbook: 80 Classic Recipes Made SimpleOma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (4)Easy German Cookbook SIGNEDGermanGirl Shop

Cooking German Red Cabbage

Honestly, it’s not difficult, just put all the ingredients into the pot… and let it cook
Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (6)

After 30 minutes, it will look like this

Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (7)
Cook, and adjust for flavor… you want it to be sweet and tangy.
Cook longer if you like it softer.

Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (8)

Oma's Easy and Delicious German Red Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What meat goes well with red cabbage? ›

Sweet and sour red cabbage is a perfect side dish for sausages, pork chops, schnitzel or German pork burgers. This braised cabbage also pairs well with roast chicken, duck, and roast beef.

Can I cook red cabbage from frozen? ›

Recipe Tips

This dish freezes well. Let the cooked cabbage cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container (it will keep in the freezer for 3 months). Defrost in the microwave or overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a microwave or in a saucepan on the hob.

Does red cabbage cook differently than green cabbage? ›

Red Cabbage vs.

Red and green cabbage can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The difference between cooking green cabbage and red cabbage is just one extra step. The compounds that give red cabbage its color, called anthocyanins, are water-soluble and will turn an unappetizing blue color when cooked.

How do you reheat jarred red cabbage? ›

In a saucepan, over a medium heat, covered with a lid for about 20 - 30 minutes (stirring occasionally). Or in a dish, covered with a suitable lid or film, in a microwave for about 3 minutes (stirring half way through).

What is the healthiest way to eat red cabbage? ›

You can add this versatile vegetable to soups, stews, salads, and coleslaw. It's delicious raw, steamed, sautéed, or fermented. It retains the most nutrients when it's eaten raw but is still highly nutritious when cooked. The flavor becomes a little milder when you cook it.

Is red cabbage good for you? ›

The wealth of nutrients in red cabbage including phytochemicals, antioxidants like anthocyanins and indoles, vitamins like C, A, E, K, B1, B2 and folate, minerals like calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron and potassium makes this veggie extremely beneficial for health.

How long does red cabbage last in the fridge? ›

Tips for storing cabbage

Wrapped tightly in plastic, a head of cabbage will keep for about two weeks in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Once cut, use cabbage within 2-3 days. Cover and refrigerate cooked cabbage within two hours of cooking and use within 3-5 days.

Can I freeze a whole red cabbage? ›

Plus, as you'll need to defrost the entire head, you'll also need to use the entire head, which isn't always convenient. Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first.

Can you just boil red cabbage? ›

Red cabbage can also be boiled. To preserve the crunch, cook in salted boiling water with a teaspoon of vinegar for 5 minutes unless a softer consistency is desired in which case cook for a little longer.

Which is healthier red or green cabbage? ›

While both green and red cabbage are excellent sources of this potent antioxidant, red cabbage contains significantly more ( 2 , 22 ). One cup (89 g) of chopped red cabbage packs in 56% of the recommended intake for vitamin C, which is the same amount found in a small orange ( 22 , 23 ).

Can dogs eat red cabbage? ›

Yes, dogs can eat cabbage. Not only is cabbage safe for dogs to eat, but they will also benefit from many of the nutrients in this lovely, leafy vegetable. Dogs can eat cabbage raw, cooked or air dried. Additionally, dogs can eat any kind of cabbage that you can, so your pup can eat green, red, and white cabbage.

What is mistaken for red cabbage? ›

While radicchio is sometimes mistaken for red cabbage or lettuce, it has a distinctively tangy or bitter taste, which can add a nice contrast and crunch to salads and other dishes. This versatile vegetable contains multiple key nutrients and has numerous health benefits, making it worth adding to your diet.

Why did my red cabbage turn blue when I cooked it? ›

These pigments are also the reason why red cabbage turns a strange shade of blue when it's cooked: Extraordinarily sensitive to acidity, anthocyanins will turn blue when their environment goes a little alkaline; say, when tap water is added to a cooked dish (via Cook's Illustrated).

How do you get the bitter taste out of red cabbage? ›

One way to make raw cabbage less bitter, and therefore more palatable, is to let it marinate in something salty or acidic for a while. Sauerkraut for example tastes much less bitter, plus contains helpful friendly bacteria from natural fermentation, but it takes a while to make.

Does Aldi have red cabbage? ›

Nature's Pick Red Cabbage Each | ALDI.

What does red cabbage go with? ›

Pickled red cabbage is an excellent match for cheese, cold meats and smoked fish. Red cabbage braised with vinegar and apples makes a traditional sweet and sour recipe to accompany a roast and beautifully spiced versions are commonly found at Christmas celebrations served with turkey, goose or baked ham.

What is cabbage compatible with? ›

Carrots, parsnips, beets, and radishes are all low-growing plants, so they don't compete with cabbages for sunlight. What's more, root vegetables break up tough soils and prevent soil compaction, making it easier for the roots of cabbage plants to grow.

Is beef and cabbage good for you? ›

Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition, commented on this Irish tradition as well. She said cabbage is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, polyphenols and sulfur compounds, while corned beef is a source of vitamin B12, iron, selenium and protein.

Why do you soak red cabbage? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

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