Braised Red Cabbage with Apple and Orange
A bright, gently spiced red cabbage braise with apple, orange juice and juniper — sweet, sharp and full of winter colour.
Ingredients
- 800 g red cabbage | outer leaves removed; cut into 8 wedges through core
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 100 g red onion | unpeeled weight; cut into slender petals < 5 mm thick
- 1 pinch salt
- 100 g Bramley apple | peeled weight; finely grated
- 1 tsp light brown sugar | or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 orange | juice and finely grated zest
- 10 g vegetable stock cube | stock cube designed for 400 ml water
- 200 ml hot water
- 5 juniper berries | lightly crushed
- 1 star anise | or pinch of allspice
- 3 fresh thyme | small sprigs
To finish
- extra orange zest
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a wide, heavy lidded pan over medium–high heat.1 tbsp olive oil
- Add the cabbage wedges, cut sides down, and sear 2–3 minutes per side until lightly caramelised. Remove to a plate.800 g red cabbage
- Lower the heat; add the onion with a small pinch of salt and cook gently for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.100 g red onion , 1 pinch salt
- Stir in the grated apple and the sugar; let it sizzle for 1 minute to gloss the onions.100 g Bramley apple , 1 tsp light brown sugar
- Add the vinegars and scrape around the pan to lift any caramelised bits. Add the remaining listed ingredients and stir.2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 orange , 10 g vegetable stock cube, 200 ml hot water, 5 juniper berries , 1 star anise , 3 fresh thyme
- Nestle the cabbage back in, spoon liquid over, cover and braise 20-30 minutes until tender but not collapsing.
- Uncover for the final 5 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Serve warm, spooning the liquor over and finishing with fresh orange zest.extra orange zest
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 491mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 6gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 2356IUVitamin C: 136mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 2mg
Nutritional values are estimates only and will vary depending on specific ingredients used. Nutrition is per serving. Information is for the main recipe, not optional accompaniments.
COPYRIGHT
© The Golden Polar Bear, 2026. Recipe and photography by Julia Savory. If you share it, please link back to thegoldenpolarbear.com.