Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

Sweet and sour red cabbage is one of my favorite side dishes I can remember from growing up. I never liked sauerkraut, but I loved our red cabbage. I think it hails from the German side of the family, though I have no idea whether it’s authentic or not. At this point, I don’t even care! It’s one of my favorites, and it’s super simple to make. It’s sweet from the brown sugar and apples, sour from the vinegar, and all-around delicious. The bacon could be omitted, though I’ve never tried it without. Give this sweet and sour red cabbage recipe a try!

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Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

This is the easiest side dish to make, and it’s always on our holiday dinner table. Sweet, tangy, and reminiscent of sauerkraut- it’s delicious!

• Prep Time10 min
• Cook Time2 hr
• Total Time2 hr 10 min

• Cuisine
  • American
  • German
• Course
  • Side Dish
• Suitable for Diet
  • Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1-2 Slices Bacon, finely minced.
• 2 Tbsp. Butter
• 1/2 Cup Minced Onion
• 2-3 lbs. Red Cabbage, shredded
• 2 Apples, peeled & diced
• 1/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Cider Vinegar
• 1-1/2 tsp. Salt
• 2 Whole Cloves
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 3/4 Cup Boiling Water

Method

1

Fry bacon in heavy 4 qt. pot until partially cooked.

2

Add butter and minced onion, lightly brown, then add remaining ingredients.

3

Simmer gently for about 2 hours.

Though I’ve never tried it, you can omit the bacon and swap the butter for a vegetarian or vegan version!