The Best Red Cabbage and Apples

Red Cabbage and Apples is the perfect side dish to usher in the new season! It says comfort in a bowl.

Autumn is a time for harvesting those veggies planted mid summer and cabbage is one of my favorites! Here in upstate New York, apples are in abundance so it is natural to pair these two items. The sweetness of the apples tame the bold peppery taste of the cabbage. It combines the perfect amount of sweet and sour!

Red cabbage is rich in potassium, vitamins, a good source of fiber and apples are full of anti-oxidants and promote good gut health. This is a great vegetarian dish and is gluten free. Changing out the butter for an avocado based “butter” will make this vegan as well.

history:

Red Cabbage and Apples is a traditional German dish. It is usually spiced with bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon or caraway. In German it is called Apfelrotkohl (apple-red-cabbage). Red cabbage, sometimes referred to as blue cabbage, has not been called purple because the term was not introduced until the late nineteenth century. Red, blue or purple it is delicious!

The Method of Red Cabbage and Apples

Items needed:

• large cutting board
• sharp chef’s knife
• a braiser or deep pot with lid

ingredients:

• red cabbage
• apples
• onions
• butter
• kosher salt
• vinegar
• sugar
• maple sugar

Prep is key so gather everything you need before starting. This is a tip to remember every time you cook. You will want to peel the outer leaves of your cabbage then slice coarsely, peel and slice your apple into thin slices and chop your onion. Almost any apple will do, but try to stay on the sweeter side. This helps tone down the cabbage. I also like using a sweet onion such as a Vidalia.

Add apples and onion to a large pot with butter. Cook down about 7 minutes. Add in the cabbage and the rest of the ingredients. Let cook for 30 minutes. My secret ingredient is using a maple sugar because, well, maple pairs great with Autumn flavors!

Cook’s Notes:

Serving suggestions:

This dish is very versatile, but my favorite way to eat it is as a side to bratwursts and German potato salad. I also love it piled high on my Schnitzel.

Alternative cooking methods:

This can be made in a slow cooker by throwing all ingredients together and cooking on low 5-6 hours.

You can also do the same in a dutch oven placed in a 300 degree oven for 2-3 hours.

The Essentials:

If you make Red Cabbage and Apples and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars!