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.
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.
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.
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:
If you like this you might also like these Christmas vegetable side dishes.
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
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
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
Nutrition
See all my Christmas recipes.
Pin braised red cabbage for later
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Cat | Curly's Cooking
So colourful and Christmassy. My Dad would love this.
Mandy Mazliah
It's such a traditional recipe isn't it
Aimee
Pinned this for later! I love red cabbage, especially for Christmas dinner 🙂
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Aimee - it's just perfect for Christmas isn't it
Sisley White
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!
Mandy Mazliah
Hope you love it Sisley! Let me know how it goes x
Nickki
Red cabbage is one of my favourite vegetables- I could eat a ton of this! I couldn’t imagine Christmas dinner without it ?
Mandy Mazliah
Totally agree Nickki!
Julia Frey
I am with you! I love red cabbage for its incredible, vibrant colour but mostly for its health benefits! Lovely dish!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Julia - it's got such a gorgeous colour and you just know how healthy it is when you see it x
Lucy
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!
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Lucy - it's a must-have for me at Christmas!
CookStyle
I love your recipe. The red cabbage has such a lovely colour, it's so tempting.
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Anca - it's stunning isn't it x
Jenny Paulin
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
Mandy Mazliah
Hope you enjoy it Jenny x
Corina
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.
Mandy Mazliah
Hope you try it Corina!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Yes please! I love red cabbage and you Christmas red cabbage sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Mandy Mazliah
Thanks Kirsty!
Angeal / Only Crumbs Remain
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
Mandy
Thanks Angela, I love the other cabbages too but this is the most Christmassy!
Sarah James
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
Mandy
Oh I bet it's lovely pickled too!
shaheen
I have been cooking with red cabbage recently, i like the simplicity of this and the spices in this def. sing Christmas carols.
Mandy
Thanks Shaheen - this dish really says Christmas to me!