Key Takeaways:
- Traditional Recipe: Authentic German red cabbage balances sweet and sour flavors, enhanced with spices like cloves and juniper berries, for a vibrant and unforgettable side dish.
- Versatile Pairings: Pairs beautifully with classic dishes like Sauerbraten, Pork Roast, or Prime Rib Roast.
- Ingredient Swaps: If red cabbage or juniper berries aren’t available, green cabbage, rosemary, cardamom, or caraway seeds are excellent substitutes.
- Simple Cooking Process: Saute onions, combine with red cabbage, apples, and spices, and simmer for 2 hours for a flavorful, tender dish.
- Storage-Friendly: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
- Adaptable Ingredients: The recipe accommodates dietary preferences, like using plant-based butter for a vegan-friendly option.
Overview
Authentic German Red Cabbage, known as Rotkohl or Blaukraut, is a comforting, time-honored side dish celebrated for its sweet and tangy flavor profile. This vibrant dish blends thinly sliced red cabbage with diced apples, onions, and a medley of warm spices like cloves and juniper berries—offering a colorful, fork-tender bite that pairs perfectly with classic mains like Sauerbraten, pork roast, or prime rib. Rooted in German family traditions and passed down through generations, this recipe captures the essence of hearty home cooking. It’s easy to prepare in a Dutch oven with everyday ingredients and offers flexible substitutions for vegan diets or hard-to-find spices. Whether you’re preserving old-world flavors or exploring new ones, this dish is as nourishing as it is nostalgic.
Authentic traditional German red cabbage is a delicious dish with its uniquely sweet and sour flavors, accented with delicately spiced cloves and juniper berries. It’s a standout side dish that uses shredded red cabbage and diced apples to create a vibrantly colored, fork-tender mouthful you’ll never forget.
This authentic German Red Cabbage was a common side dish when I was growing up. My roots go back to Germany on my mom’s side of the family, and my stepmom was also German. We enjoyed many dishes with German origins, and this German Red Cabbage dish remains a favorite to this day.
Serve this German Red Cabbage with Sauerbraten. It also goes well as a side dish with a Pork Roast or Prime Rib Roast.
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Simple is Smart (SIS) Tip:
If you don’t have red cabbage, you can also make this dish with green cabbage. It isn’t as beautiful or vibrant. However, it is still delicious. If you can’t find Juniper Berries, substitute dried Rosemary, Cardamon Seed, or Caraway seeds for the Juniper Berries.
What Ingredients do I Need to Make German Red Cabbage?
Red Cabbage: Thinly slice the red cabbage you will need one small head or about half of a large head of red cabbage.
Apples: I’ve used tart apples and sweet apples and come to the conclusion that the apple variety doesn’t matter. Make sure you peel and core the apple before dicing it.
Onions: I use a medium yellow or Spanish onion. A sweet onion will also work.
Butter: If you are vegan, use a plant based butter like VioLife.
Vegetable Broth: Make homemade vegetable broth from the scraps that you trim off of your vegetables. Freeze or can the stock for use in recipes.
Red Wine Vinegar: If you don’t have red wine vinegar, you can use balsamic or even white vinegar. The vinegar gives this dish it’s delightful tang.
Bay Leaf: remove the bay leaf before serving.
Whole Cloves: substitute 1/4 tsp ground cloves if you don’t have whole cloves.
Juniper Berries: Dried rosemary, Cardamon, or Caraway seeds can be substituted for the Juniper Berries. Use 1/4 tsp.
Step by Step Instructions:
- In a Dutch Oven, saute the onions in the butter on med-low for 10 minutes to lightly caramelize the onions.
- Add the sliced cabbage and cook for five minutes.
- Add all of the rest of the ingredients.
- Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
- Stir every 30 minutes to make sure it isn’t sticking. Add more broth if needed.
- Season to taste by adjusting the sweetness and the acid with either sugar or vinegar.
Storing:
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop and serve. Add a little water if heating on the stovetop.
Freezing: The leftovers will freeze well in an airtight container for up to six months.
If you are curious about the health benefits of cabbage, I have an article for you: 10 Compelling Reasons to Eat Cabbage.
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FAQ:
Can I use green cabbage instead of red cabbage?
What can I use if I don’t have juniper berries?
How long does German red cabbage keep in the refrigerator?
Can I freeze the leftovers?
What type of vinegar should I use?
Can I make this dish vegan?
German Red Cabbage - Traditional
Equipment
- This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs red cabbage thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 med onion finely diced
- 1 large apple chopped fine
- 3 whole cloves
- 3 juniper berries
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- In a Dutch Oven, saute the onions in the butter on med-low for 10 minutes to lightly caramelize the onions.
- Add the sliced cabbage and cook for five minutes.
- Add all of the rest of the ingredients.
- Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
- Stir every 30 minutes to make sure it isn't sticking. Add more broth if needed.
- Season to taste by adjusting the sweetness and the acid with either sugar or vinegar.
