Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger (Slow Cooker)

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Ginger is a classic braised red cabbage made in your slow cooker or in the oven. The cabbage is cooked slowly with apples and onions spiced up with the warmth of sweet ginger. It’s delicious with roast and baked meats especially ham and turkey, an ideal warming side dish for autumn and winter days.

Braised Red Cabbage with Apple and ginger with ham and chicken

Why should I make Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Ginger?

Red cabbage is a classic winter vegetable. The robust nature of red cabbage makes it ideal for long slow cooking and the sweet and sour flavours make it the perfect side dish to make in the colder months. This is a very easy recipe to make, just a bit of chopping then everything goes into the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage with mash and sprouts

Can I make this recipe if I don’t have a slow cooker?

You can make this recipe in a low oven. The process is exactly the same, just layer up the ingredients in a casserole dish, put on the lid and bake for 1 1/2 hours at 160C/140C (fan).

Braised Red Cabbage ingredients

What ingredients do I need?

This recipe uses ingredients that are easily available in your local supermarket or store.

  • Red Cabbage
  • Onions
  • Apples
  • Ginger preserve
  • Fresh ginger root
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Brown sugar
  • Salt
red Cabbage

What is Red Cabbage?

Red Cabbage is a vegetable in the brassica family. The heads of cabbage are round and have tightly wrapped waxy leaves. Also known as Purple Cabbage, the colour is somewhere between a burgundy red and violet purple.

Red cabbage holds less water than some other cabbages and this makes the leaves chewier and courser. This makes it ideal for long slow cooking.

What kind of onions should I use?

You can use any kind of onion in this recipe. However, I like to use red onions which combine nicely with the red cabbage. They have a slightly milder flavour than yellow onions.

What kind of apples should I use?

Use a dessert apple that has firm and sweet flesh. I like to use Cox’s Orange Pippins or Russet Apples but any dessert apple that has a nice balance of sweet and sharp will work well in this recipe. Cooking apples are too sour for this recipe, it’s important that there is a good balance to this dish.

root ginger

What is Ginger Root?

Ginger root is a rhizome, a thick underground stem that sprouts roots and shoots. Ginger originates from south-east Asia and ginger is part of the same family as turmeric.

The ginger roots that we buy are harvested from the plants which then continue to grow. Fresh ginger root is available in most supermarkets as well as greengrocers and markets.

TOP TIP

To remove the skin from your ginger root simply scrape it off with a teaspoon.

Ginger preserve

What is Ginger Preserve?

Ginger Preserve can also be called ginger jam or ginger marmalade. It’s a sweet spread made with root ginger, lemon and spices. It is easily available in grocery stores and supermarkets. Ginger preserve adds tasty pieces of preserved ginger and the sweetness of the jam as well.

What can I substitute for ginger preserve in Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger?

If you can’t find Ginger Preserve then use the equivalent quantity of preserved ginger in syrup. Chop the pieces of preserved ginger into small pieces and add some of the syrup too.

What kind of brown sugar should I use in the Braised Red Cabbage?

I use light soft brown sugar in this recipe. You can use dark muscovado sugar but it has a strong molasses flavour that can dominate the dish. Demerara or Turbinado sugar is not suitable for this recipe as it does not dissolve into the cabbage as easily as the smaller grains of the soft brown sugar.

Why do I need wine vinegar in the Braised Red Cabbage?

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Ginger has a sweet and sour flavour profile. The wine vinegar is part of the ‘sour’ aspect of the balance in this dish. I prefer to use red wine vinegar but you can also use white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar and cider vinegar. Malt vinegar is not suitable as it is too harsh and will overpower the other ingredients.

Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage in bowl with spoon

How long can I store cooked Braised Red Cabbage?

Cool the Braised Red Cabbage and put it into a container with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Braised Red Cabbage reheats really well and can even taste better than the first time you eat it.

Reheat in the oven at 180C for about 20-30 minutes or in the microwave for between 4-8 minutes depending on the quantity of cabbage you are heating and the power of your microwave. Make sure the cabbage is thoroughly heated through.

freezer with boxes

Can I freeze Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger?

Braised Red Cabbage freezes very well. Divide the cooked and cooled red cabbage into freezer-proof containers with lids. Divide the braised red cabbage into the quantities that you think you will use. You can always reheat more than one portion but if you freeze the whole dish in one, then you will need to use it all at once when it comes out of the freezer.

Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat in a casserole dish in the oven on low heat or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Then reheat until piping hot.

Is Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger suitable for vegetarians?

There are no meat products in Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger. It is a recipe that is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Is Braised Red Cabbage gluten-free?

There are no wheat products in this recipe. Always check the labels on any processed products that are included in a recipe just in case, but I can see no ingredients in this recipe that should cause any problems.

This is a really easy recipe to make. The preparation is minimal and it has a long slow cooking time. Just put it in the oven and leave it until the cabbage is soft and all the flavours have combined.

Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage plated with ham, mash and sprouts

How should I serve Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger ?

Everyday Meals

Serve Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger with everyday meals like sausages, chops, or steaks or try it with my Air Fryer Balmoral Chicken, tender chicken breast is stuffed with haggis and wrapped in salty bacon then air fried and served with a rich creamy Scotch whisky sauce. it’s delicious. The ginger preserve adds a nice kick to this dish making it even more warming than usual.

Festive Side Dish

Braised Red Cabbage is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas Dinner or other festive holiday meals. You can make it ahead of time and reheat it to serve with your roast. Braised Red Cabbage is also a great accompaniment to cold ham or turkey as part of a buffet.  

Optional Extras

Add fresh cranberries to the Braised Red Cabbage recipe to make it even more festive. It needs an extra tablespoon of soft brown sugar to counteract the acidity of the berries and maintain the balance of the flavour.

Garnish

I like to garnish the Braised Red Cabbage with some finely chopped fresh root ginger.

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Bowl of Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage
Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Ginger

Slow Cooker Braised Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger

Janice Pattie
Red Cabbage with Apples & Ginger is a classic braised red cabbage with apples and onions spiced up with sweet ginger preserves. Make it in your Slow cooker or in the oven, It's the ideal side dish for autumn and winter days.
4.73 from 11 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Side Dish, sides
Cuisine British, Scottish
Servings 6
Calories 116 kcal

Equipment

  • Sharp knife
  • chopping board
  • Slow Cooker
  • Measuring spoons
  • Vegetable peeler

Ingredients

  • 1/2 medium (1/2 medium) red cabbage
  • 1 large (1 large) red onion
  • 3 (3) apples
  • 3 tablespoon (3 tablespoon) ginger preserve
  • 2.5 cm (2.5 cm) fresh ginger peeled and finely grated
  • 2 tablespoon (2 tablespoon) red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) soft brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) salt

Instructions
 

  • 1/2 medium red cabbage
    Slice the cabbage.
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  • 1 large red onion
    Peel and slice the onions.
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  • 3 apples
    Peel, core and slice the apples.
    apples
  • 2.5 cm fresh ginger, 3 tablespoon ginger preserve
    In your slow cooker pot build up layers of cabbage, onion, apple, finely grated fresh ginger, and ginger preserve.
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  • Repeat the layers until you have used all the ingredients. There should be around 3 layers. Finish with a layer of cabbage.
  • 1 tablespoon soft brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    Sprinkle over the salt and the soft brown sugar and add the wine vinegar.
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  • Put a lid on the slow cooker.
  • Cook on LOW for 6 hours until the cabbage is tender.
    Slow Cooker Braised red cabbage

Notes

To cook in the oven

Pre-heat the oven to 160C. Follow the preparation steps layering the ingredients into an oven-proof casserole dish with a lid.  Cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until the cabbage is tender.

Optional extra

You can make this even more festive by adding fresh cranberries and an additional tbsp of soft brown sugar to counteract the acidity of the berries.

Garnish

I like to garnish the dish with some finely chopped fresh root ginger. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 24mgPotassium: 311mgFiber: 4gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 829IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
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22 Comments

  1. Love red cabbage ad as you say it keeps well too…hubby is not a fan but this ginger twist would tempt him…great idea!

  2. I’m a huge fan of spiced red cabbage and even better that your recipe cooks it in the slow cooker meaning you can get on with your day while is braises away slowly.

  3. I’m obsessed with red cabbage at the moment. Love the stuff. It’s an essential part of our Christmas meal, but it goes surprisingly well with loads of stuff. Your ginger twist sounds excellent.

  4. It looks delicious! Braised red cabbage is actually something I’ve never tried making but I really should. I especially like the sound of all the ginger in your recipe as I’m a huge fan of anything with ginger.

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Recipe Rating




4.73 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)