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Home » Recipes » Main meals

Easy Christmas red cabbage recipe

November 23, 2016 by Mandy Mazliah 27 Comments

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Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl
Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl
Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl

A delicious traditional and easy Christmas red cabbage recipe. This classic festive side dish is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is a must-have on every Christmas dinner table.

Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl

For a truly fantastic Christmas dinner it's essential to have a good selection of festive vegetable sides.

Sprouts, parsnips, carrots - and of course roast potatoes - are all vital.

And braised red cabbage, cooked slowly with festive spices is another.

This recipe is:

  • easy
  • delicious
  • lightly spiced
  • festive
  • colourful

And it definitely deserves a place centre-stage on your Christmas table.

easy Christmas red cabbage recipe by Sneaky Veg

Spiced red cabbage is a Christmas classic

The colour of red cabbage is just incredible don't you think? How could you see something so bright and vibrant and not be tempted to give it a try?

Well - quite easily if you're my kids apparently but that's fine. Not everything I make has to be for them. Ever since we started having a Christmas meal with our friends in London every December this vegan red cabbage recipe has been an essential part of our festive table.

It's easier than you might think to cook red cabbage for a roast dinner. Our friend Russ, now more often called Uncle Wuss, has made this without fail every year since we started the tradition way back in the dark ages (circa 2004 I think).

This is my take on his recipe.

Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl

Red cabbage is the perfect Christmas side dish

My red cabbage is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas meal.

If you're planning a veggie or vegan Christmas this year why not try this with my:

  • parsnip, chestnut and sage wreath (vegan)
  • garlic roasted Brussel sprouts
  • maple balsamic roasted carrots and parsnips
  • one dish roasted Christmas vegetables
  • and lots of roast potatoes of course?

If you like this you might also like these Christmas vegetable side dishes.

easy Christmas red cabbage recipe by Sneaky Veg

Ingredients

To make Christmas-spiced red cabbage you will need:

  • Olive oil
  • Red onion 
  • Apples
  • Cloves
  • Star anise
  • Grated nutmeg
  • Sherry or red wine vinegar
  • Red cabbage 
easy Christmas red cabbage recipe by Sneaky Veg

How to make easy Christmas red cabbage:

  • Christmas red cabbage takes a while to cook but it's really very easy to make.
  • Simply cook the onion, add grated apple and spices then shred the cabbage and add it bit by bit before leaving it to cook down for an hour or so.
  • It can be made in advance and reheated to save time on the big day.

If you've made this recipe please a star rating and comment below. Thank you!

Please do not reproduce this recipe without permission.

Easy Christmas red cabbage recipe

Mandy Mazliah
A delicious traditional and easy Christmas red cabbage recipe. This classic festive side dish is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is a must-have on every Christmas dinner table.
4.88 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr 35 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine British
Servings 6
Calories 125 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red onion thinly sliced
  • 2 eating apples grated
  • 3 cloves
  • 3 star anise
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg grated
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 800 g red cabbage shredded

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy based pan with a lid. Add the sliced red onion, stir and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the onion is soft. Stir occasionally.
  • Add the grated apple, the spices and the vinegar. Stir, then add the red cabbage bit by bit, stirring as you go so that it's coated in the spices.
  • Cover and cook on a low heat for an hour or until the cabbage is cooked through.
  • Serve with a roast dinner.

Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 38mgPotassium: 425mgFiber: 5gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1523IUVitamin C: 80mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 1mg
Keyword christmas red cabbage
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

See all my Christmas recipes.

Pin braised red cabbage for later

Christmas red cabbage in blue and white bowl

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« Parsnip, chestnut and sage vegan Christmas nut roast
Vegan Christmas banana bread with cranberries »
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cat | Curly's Cooking

    November 20, 2018 at 3:18 pm

    5 stars
    So colourful and Christmassy. My Dad would love this.

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 20, 2018 at 10:20 pm

      It's such a traditional recipe isn't it

      Reply
  2. Aimee

    November 19, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    Pinned this for later! I love red cabbage, especially for Christmas dinner 🙂

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 20, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Thanks Aimee - it's just perfect for Christmas isn't it

      Reply
  3. Sisley White

    November 19, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    5 stars
    It wouldn't be Christmas in my family without red cabbage and apple. I've never made it before so this year is my year and I'll be using your recipe. Can't wait. The photos are making me so hungry!

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 20, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Hope you love it Sisley! Let me know how it goes x

      Reply
  4. Nickki

    November 19, 2018 at 11:18 am

    5 stars
    Red cabbage is one of my favourite vegetables- I could eat a ton of this! I couldn’t imagine Christmas dinner without it ?

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 20, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      Totally agree Nickki!

      Reply
  5. Julia Frey

    November 16, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    5 stars
    I am with you! I love red cabbage for its incredible, vibrant colour but mostly for its health benefits! Lovely dish!

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 16, 2018 at 9:21 pm

      Thanks Julia - it's got such a gorgeous colour and you just know how healthy it is when you see it x

      Reply
  6. Lucy

    November 15, 2018 at 11:01 am

    5 stars
    I love the idea of using your red cabbage dish as part of a veggie Christmas dinner. It’s certaibly a festive favourite here too!

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 15, 2018 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks Lucy - it's a must-have for me at Christmas!

      Reply
  7. CookStyle

    November 28, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    I love your recipe. The red cabbage has such a lovely colour, it's so tempting.

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 29, 2016 at 9:35 pm

      Thanks Anca - it's stunning isn't it x

      Reply
  8. Jenny Paulin

    November 25, 2016 at 9:31 am

    i have pinned this as i love red cabbage but have not tried it this way before. looks so good and i love the colour x

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 29, 2016 at 9:35 pm

      Hope you enjoy it Jenny x

      Reply
  9. Corina

    November 24, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    I fear my children might also turn their noses up at this but it's such a lovely colour I hope it could tempt them. It's one of those dishes I've been meaning to have a go at for a long time but never have. IT would be lovely with Christmas dinner.

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 25, 2016 at 5:52 am

      Hope you try it Corina!

      Reply
  10. Kirsty Hijacked By Twins

    November 24, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    Yes please! I love red cabbage and you Christmas red cabbage sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x

    Reply
    • Mandy Mazliah

      November 25, 2016 at 5:53 am

      Thanks Kirsty!

      Reply
  11. Angeal / Only Crumbs Remain

    November 24, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    Gorgeous Mandy, I love red cabbage - it looks so much nicer than a plain white one, and with the spices it so perfect for this time of yearAngela x

    Reply
    • Mandy

      November 25, 2016 at 5:50 am

      Thanks Angela, I love the other cabbages too but this is the most Christmassy!

      Reply
  12. Sarah James

    November 24, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    Delicious Mandy. I love red cabbage and usually pickle some for Christmas but I really like the idea of serving it with Christmas dinner. x

    Reply
    • Mandy

      November 25, 2016 at 5:49 am

      Oh I bet it's lovely pickled too!

      Reply
  13. shaheen

    November 24, 2016 at 7:47 am

    I have been cooking with red cabbage recently, i like the simplicity of this and the spices in this def. sing Christmas carols.

    Reply
    • Mandy

      November 25, 2016 at 5:49 am

      Thanks Shaheen - this dish really says Christmas to me!

      Reply

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