Spicy Red Cabbage
Spicy red cabbage offers a vibrant blend of tangy, sweet, and warm spices, making it a perfect side dish for festive or everyday meals, especially with roasted meats or grains.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup strong chicken broth ⓘ
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped ⓘ
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced ⓘ
- 1 (2 lb.) head red cabbage, cut into strips
- 1 tart apple, peeled, cored, and diced ⓘ
- 3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice ⓘ
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar ⓘ
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice ⓘ
- 1 Tbsp. honey ⓘ
- 1 tsp. grated lemon rind ⓘ
- 1 tsp. caraway seed ⓘ
- pinch of ground cloves ⓘ
- pinch of ground allspice ⓘ
- salt to taste ⓘ
Instructions
- In a pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic; cook uncovered over medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Add the red cabbage, diced apple, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, grated lemon rind, caraway seed, ground cloves, ground allspice, and salt to taste.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer slowly for 40 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Tips & Substitutions
For an extra kick, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes. If you don't have caraway seeds, cumin can be a good substitute. Using a sweeter apple can balance the tartness, so feel free to experiment with different varieties. Make sure to chop the cabbage into even strips for uniform cooking.
Serving Suggestions
This dish pairs beautifully with roasted meats, especially pork or chicken. It can be served alongside hearty sides like mashed potatoes or as part of a festive meal. For a lighter option, consider serving it with a simple green salad or as a topping for sandwiches.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover Spicy Red Cabbage can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When reheating, use a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth to prevent sticking. It can also be enjoyed cold as a tangy salad.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Spicy Red Cabbage contains roughly 134 calories, with 3g protein, 24g carbohydrates, and 5g fat. It is a good source of dietary fiber (18% of the Daily Value), iron (12% of the Daily Value), and vitamin C (12% of the Daily Value). It also contributes 5g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe vegan by substituting the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omitting the honey or replacing it with maple syrup or agave nectar for a plant-based sweetener.
How do I adjust the sweetness of the dish?
To adjust the sweetness, you can increase the amount of honey or add more diced apple. If you prefer a less sweet flavor, reduce the apple juice or omit the honey altogether.
Can I prepare this dish in advance?
Absolutely! Spicy Red Cabbage can be made a day ahead of time, as the flavors develop even more overnight. Just store it in the refrigerator and reheat before serving for the best results.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).