German Cuisine
Warm Braised Red Cabbage with Apple
An absolute staple of German culinary arts, re-imagined with a cleaner, lighter, and more modern touch. Finely shredded red cabbage is simmered until delicately tender, preserving its vibrant ruby color with a splash of apple cider vinegar. Sweet, tart apple cubes dissolve into the mixture, creating a brilliant contrast with warming cloves and cinnamon.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 45 min
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cooking
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- German Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
Discard the tough outer leaves of the cabbage and shred it ve…
Discard the tough outer leaves of the cabbage and shred it very finely. Peel the onion and dice it small.
- 02
Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat
Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion for about 3 minutes until soft and translucent.
- 03
Add the shredded cabbage to the pot and immediately pour in t…
Add the shredded cabbage to the pot and immediately pour in the apple cider vinegar. Toss thoroughly to lock in the bright color.
- 04
Core and peel the apple, then cut it into small cubes
Core and peel the apple, then cut it into small cubes. Add it to the pot along with the salt, sugar, whole cloves, ground cinnamon, and water or broth.
- 05
Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce heat to low
Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and braise gently for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until tender.
- 06
Uncover for the last 5 minutes of cooking to let any excess m…
Uncover for the last 5 minutes of cooking to let any excess moisture evaporate. Fish out the whole cloves before serving.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
Do not skip adding the vinegar early on. The acidity is crucial not just for flavor balance, but for fixing the brilliant purple color, preventing the cabbage from turning a dull blue.
How to serve
Serve warm as a classic side dish alongside roasted duck, chicken, schnitzels, or pork chops, optionally garnished with a cinnamon stick.
How to store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheating the cabbage on the next day actually enhances and matures its sweet-and-sour flavor.
Note
This dish can be completely made ahead of time and reheated in portions before serving—a traditional everyday meal prep hero.
