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Braised Red Cabbage with Apples

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples

By Courtney HillApril 7, 2020

  • Makes
    4 servings
  • Cook Time
    1 hour
  • Slow Cook Time
    6 to 6½ hours
  • Active time plus cooling
    25 minutes active
  • Rating

Our take on classic German Rotkohl (also called Blaukraut or Rotkraut) gets a little sweetness and fruitiness from apple cider along with grated fresh apples, and tanginess from cider vinegar. We prefer to use Granny Smith apples here, not only for their crisp texture, but also for their sweet-tart flavor. Plus their green skins add a little color contrast to the purple-red cabbage. The flavors in this dish work nicely with roasted or grilled pork, turkey and sausages.

Tip

Don't shred the apples far advance of adding them to the pot because they may discolor. If convenient, they can be shredded, tossed with the vinegar and salt, then stored at room temperature with plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface for up to 15 minutes.

Ingredients
  • 4

    tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, cut into 4 pieces, divided

  • 1

    medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced

  • 1

    teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1

    teaspoon caraway seeds

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 2½ - 3

    pound head red cabbage, outer leaves discarded, cut into 8 wedges, cored and cut crosswise into 1-inch sections

  • 1

    tablespoon packed brown sugar

  • ¾

    cup unfiltered apple juice or apple cider

  • 3

    tablespoons cider vinegar, divided

  • 2

    medium tart apples, such as Granny Smith

Step 1

On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select Normal/Medium Sauté. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter.

Add the onion, allspice, caraway and 2 teaspoons salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

Stir in the cabbage and sugar. Stir in the cider, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and ¼ cup water, then distribute in an even layer.

Step 2

Press Cancel, lock the lid in place and move the pressure valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook or Manual; make sure the pressure level is set to High. Set the cooking time for 4 minutes.

When pressure cooking is complete, let the pressure reduce naturally for 15 minutes, then quick-release the remaining steam by moving the pressure valve to Venting.

Press Cancel, then carefully open the pot.

Step 3

On the large holes of a box grater set in a medium bowl, shred each apple down to the core, rotating as needed; discard the cores.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt to the grated apples and toss. Select Normal/Medium Sauté and bring the cabbage to a simmer.

Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Press Cancel to turn off the pot.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and stir until melted. Taste and season with salt and pepper.