Danish Christmas Red Cabbage
Infuse your holiday table with authentic Scandinavian flavor by making this traditional Danish Christmas Red Cabbage. This slow-simmered side dish features thinly sliced red cabbage cooked to tender perfection in a blend of apple cider vinegar, red currant jelly, and warm spices like allspice and cloves. Grated apple adds a subtle sweetness, while a touch of butter brings rich depth to each bite. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, this festive dish pairs beautifully with roasted pork, duck, or classic Danish meatballs. With its vibrant color and irresistible aroma, this easy yet elegant recipe is a must-have for any cozy Christmas celebration.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 head (approximately 2 pounds) Red cabbage
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 1 (medium-sized, peeled, cored, and grated) Apple
- 4 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Red currant jelly
- 0.5 teaspoons Ground allspice
- 0.25 teaspoons Ground cloves
- 1 teaspoons Salt
- 0.5 cups Water
Instructions
Remove the outer leaves of the red cabbage and discard. Cut the cabbage into quarters, remove the core, and slice it thinly into shreds.
Heat the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until melted.
Add the shredded cabbage to the pot and stir, cooking for 5 minutes until the cabbage begins to soften slightly.
Stir in the grated apple, apple cider vinegar, sugar, red currant jelly, ground allspice, ground cloves, and salt.
Pour the water over the cabbage mixture and stir well to combine all the ingredients.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer gently for 1.5 hours, stirring every 15–20 minutes to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
If the mixture starts to dry out during cooking, add a few tablespoons of water as needed to keep it moist.
Taste the cabbage and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, sugar, or vinegar if needed, balancing the sweetness and tang to your preference.
Once tender and beautifully caramelized, remove the cabbage from heat. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve warm as a traditional accompaniment to roast pork, duck, or Danish meatballs.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
798 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 24.5 g | 31% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.2 g | 66% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 66 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 2768 mg | 120% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 144.6 g | 53% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 24.7 g | 88% | |
| Total Sugars | 93.2 g | ||
| Protein | 10.8 g | 22% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 443 mg | 34% | |
| Iron | 7.5 mg | 42% | |
| Potassium | 2473 mg | 53% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
