Vegan Braised Red Cabbage with Apple

🛒 Ingredients

• ½ small red cabbage (approx. 500 g), cored and thinly sliced
• 2 medium sweet apples (e.g. Gala, Fuji, or Elstar), peeled, cored, and cubed
• 1 small onion, finely chopped.. 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2–3 tbsp maple syrup or coconut sugar (adjust to taste)
• 50 g raisins or sultanas.. 1 bay leaf.. ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves.. ¼ tsp fine sea salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper.. 100–150 ml water or vegetable broth

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Sauté the base: Heat oil or melt vegan butter in a large pot over medium‑low heat. Add chopped onion and cook gently for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.

2. 2

   Combine ingredients: Add sliced red cabbage, cubed apple, raisins, vinegar, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and water/broth. Stir well to combine.

3. 3

   Braise slowly: Bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight‑fitting lid, and cook slowly for 35–45 minutes. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick. Cook until the cabbage is beautifully tender but still holds a little texture — do NOT let it turn mushy.

4. 4

   Adjust seasoning: Remove the bay leaf. Taste and add more vinegar for tang or maple syrup for sweetness — balance is key! If there is too much liquid, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to reduce.

5. 5

   Serve: Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Delicious warm, and tastes even better the next day after the flavours have had time to deepen!