This braised red cabbage side dish is very traditional in Sweden and Denmark. Especially at the Christmas buffet. You can though serve this all year round as a side to different meats like pork, duck, or chicken.
The Swedish version and Danish version of braised red cabbage are very alike. One difference is that black currant jam or juice is more commonly used in the Danish version. All families also have their own recipes. Some like it quite plain, and some like to add a variety of spices to it.
In the ingredient list you get tips on flavoring your cabbage the traditional way. Then you have to experiment what you like the best.
Basic Ingredients
- Red cabbage
- Butter-Use margarine or oil to make a milk-free/vegan version.
- Onion-use regular or red onion-optional
- Apple-a not so sweet apple gives a nice tang. Green apples are traditional- optional
- Red wine vinegar, can be replaced with other types of vinegar like apple cider vinegar. This can also be replaces with wine, but double the amount then.
- Light syrup, brown sugar, or lingonberry jam
- Bay leaves
- Whole allspice-optional
- Black pepper
- Salt
Optional spices
- Cloves
- Cumin
- Nutmeg
- Currant jam
Instructions
- Cut your cabbage into quite thin slices. Use a knife, a cheese slicer or mandolin for this. Grate your apple and cut the onion also into thin slices.
- Melt the butter on your pan. You can use a big frying pan or casserole. To get even more rich flavor to your dish, you can brown the butter slightly so it gets some light brown spots.
- Add in all your ingredients, give it a stir and let simmer with a lid on for 50-60 minutes on medium heat. Stir it once in a while.
What to serve with
This is a traditional side dish for the Christmas ham, it goes also very well together with sausages, spareribs, and meatballs.
I actually like to eat this braised cabbage as a vegan version together with IKEA plant-balls, mash and lingonberry jam.
FAQ
Yes, freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Store your stewed cabbage for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container or ziplock bag. To keep it for longer you need to use a vacuum-sealed container.
Red cabbage is high in fiber, vitamin C, potassium, selenium, folate, and B vitamins, it is also high in antioxidants.
Other recipes for a Scandinavian holiday buffet
- Brunkål-brown cabbage
- Spice cake
- Home made gingerbread spice mix
- Gravlax
- Archipelago bread
- Cinnamon rolls
- Rice porridge
Swedish Braised Red Cabbage
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red cabbage
- 1 green apple
- 1 medium onion, yellow or red.
- ½ stick butter, (60g)
- 4 tablespoon light or brown syrup or brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoon black or white pepper
- 4 bay leaves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves or 4-5 whole ones
- 8 whole allspice
Instructions
- Cut your cabbage into quite thin slices. Grate your apple and cut the onion also into thin slices.
- Melt the butter on your pan or casserole. Even a dutch oven is great to use.
- Add in all your ingredients, give it a stir and let simmer with a lid on for 50-60 minutes on medium heat. Stir it once in a while.
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