Sweet and sour slow cooker red cabbage with apples and onions {vegan, gluten-free}

Nothing revolutionary here, just a reliably delicious traditional side dish that you can serve hot or cold. In fact, my husband Ted's first reaction after taste testing was, "This would be great on a hot dog!" And so you see it, served at room temperature, piled on an organic beef hot dog. Ted was absolutely right; it's a great pairing. I'd love to see this sweet and sour cabbage on the holiday table, slightly warm and oh-so-holiday-red. The stunning color and tangy flavor, which comes from a mix of vinegars, compliment a range of menus, from Christmas goose to roast chicken to fish tacos. The recipe calls for pomegranate vinegar, which I buy at Trader Joe's (or online); if you can't find this, substitute a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar plus a teaspoon of red wine vinegar, or swap in pomegranate juice. Top a rice bowl with red cabbage and some chunks of cheese, for a quick vegetarian lunch. With five minutes of prep, you can set cabbage in the slow cooker to do its thing all day, while you are at work or running errands. Make it a few days ahead, and let it get happy in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Sweet and sour slow cooker red cabbage with apples and onions

From the pantry, you'll need: onion, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, agave nectar, kosher salt, fresh black pepper.

Serves 6-8.

Ingredients

1 small head of red cabbage, sliced into 1/4-inch shreds
1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced
2 small apples, sliced (do not peel)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1-1/2 Tbsp pomegranate vinegar
2 Tbsp agave nectar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
Fresh black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a 4-quart slow cooker, place all ingredients. Cover.

Cook on LOW for 9 hours, or until the cabbage has completely softened. Stir at least one time during the cook time, if you're home, to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

Taste, and adjust with salt and pepper, as needed.

Serve hot or cold.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More fun with red cabbage:
Red cabbage salad with walnuts, raisins, feta, and warm mustard dressing, from The Perfect Pantry
Asian red cabbage slaw with peanuts, scallions and mint, from The Perfect Pantry
Red cabbage slaw with tangy carrot-ginger dressing, from Nom Nom Paleo
Braised red cabbage with chestnuts, from Simply Recipes
Thai-style spicy cabbage slaw with mint and cilantro, from Kalyn's Kitchen

Sweet and sour slow cooker red cabbage with apples and onions

From the pantry, you'll need: onion, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, agave nectar, kosher salt, fresh black pepper.

Serves 6-8.

Ingredients

1 small head of red cabbage, sliced into 1/4-inch shreds
1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced
2 small apples, sliced (do not peel)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1-1/2 Tbsp pomegranate vinegar
2 Tbsp agave nectar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
Fresh black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a 4-quart slow cooker, place all ingredients. Cover.

Cook on LOW for 9 hours, or until the cabbage has completely softened. Stir at least one time during the cook time, if you're home, to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

Taste, and adjust with salt and pepper, as needed.

Serve hot or cold.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More fun with red cabbage:
Red cabbage salad with walnuts, raisins, feta, and warm mustard dressing, from The Perfect Pantry
Asian red cabbage slaw with peanuts, scallions and mint, from The Perfect Pantry
Red cabbage slaw with tangy carrot-ginger dressing, from Nom Nom Paleo
Braised red cabbage with chestnuts, from Simply Recipes
Thai-style spicy cabbage slaw with mint and cilantro, from Kalyn's Kitchen

Comments

I love cabbage, so this sounds delicious to me!

Kalyn, this is a really easy side dish for the holidays. Especially for cabbage lovers!