If you still need convinced by red cabbage as a Christmas side dish; then let me fix that for you. Every Christmas without fail, a big pot of this spiced red cabbage is simmering away in my kitchen. It’s one of those dishes that fills the whole house with festive warmth before you’ve even taken a bite, and it only takes 30 minutes to make.
The combination of red cabbage and gentle winter spices creates the most deliciously tender side that works with absolutely everything on the Christmas dinner table.
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It’s also a great one to make ahead. It reheats beautifully and actually tastes even better the next day. Perfect if you’re juggling guests, presents and ten different timers on Christmas Day!
Ingredients for Spiced Red Cabbage
- Salted Butter
- Olive Oil
- Fruit: apple, cranberry sauce (or redcurrant jelly) and lemon (optional)
- Vegetables: onion and red cabbage
- Spices: ground nutmeg, ground cloves and ground cinnamon
- Stock: I used this chicken bone broth, but you can use vegetable stock to make the dish fully vegetarian
- Sugar
How to make Spiced Red Cabbage
Prepare all vegetables: thinly slice cabbage, peel and grate apple (add a squeeze of lemon juice if using) and chop onions. Melt butter in pan and soften chopped onions.
Once softened, add apple, cabbage, cranberry sauce, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and chicken stock. Mix to combine and bring to boil then reduce to simmer (with the lid on).
This spiced red cabbage recipe is able to be made in less than 30 minutes because by cooking the cabbage with the lid on, you're steaming it at the same time as sautéing it.
After 15 minutes, remove the lid and keep cooking on medium heat until mostly all of the liquid has evaporated (approx. 5 minutes). Finally, season with salt & pepper to taste.
How To Prep Ahead For Christmas
Spiced red cabbage can be prepared in advance of Christmas and either kept in the fridge or the freezer. Simply make it and put in a fridge/freezer-safe container (airtight bag or dish) until needed.
- Freezer: up to 4 weeks before (defrost in fridge overnight)
- Fridge: 4 days
How to reheat: in the microwave or on the hob (with a little extra stock if choosing this method) until piping hot throughout.
Fancy some other Christmas side dishes?
If you like this 30 minute spiced red cabbage recipe then why not try one of my other Christmas recipes?
- Honey Roast Carrots and Parsnips
- Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes in Air Fryer
- Oven Roasted Cauliflower Cheese
If you have any questions please leave a comment and I'll get back to you. Or I would really appreciate it if you left me a review below.
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Spiced Red Cabbage (30 Minute Recipe)
Ingredients
- 50 g salted butter
- 2 red onion
- 750 g red cabbage medium sized
- 1 apple peeled, cored and grated
- squeeze of lemon juice optional
- 1 tablespoon smooth cranberry sauce or redcurrant sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 300 ml vegetable stock
Instructions
- Prepare all vegetables: thinly slice 750 g red cabbage, peel and grate 1 apple (add a squeeze of lemon juice if using) and chop 2 red onion
- Melt 50 g salted butter in pan and soften chopped onions
- Once softened, add apple, cabbage, 1 tablespoon smooth cranberry sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground clove and 300 ml vegetable stock
- Mix to combine, bring to boil then reduce to simmer - with a lid on the pot - for 15 minutes
- After 15 minutes, remove the lid and keep cooking on medium heat until mostly all of the liquid has evaporated (approx. 5 minutes)
- Finally, season with salt & pepper to taste
Adrian Day says
I made this Exactly to the recipe and aa I thought the cloves completely ruined it, I added honey which helped, next time I'll use honey and clementines DEFINITELY NOT CLOVES