Sweet & Sour Cabbage with Honey (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

This sweet and sour cabbage with honey is a bright and flavorful side dish! Made with healthy red cabbage and honey right from the hive!  Great to serve along side any protein, a bright and flavorful side dish.

This Red Cabbage with Raw Honey Is:

• Sweet
• Tangy
• Bright
• Tart
• Packed with Flavor
• Healthy and loaded with nutrients
• Vegetarian (not technically vegan beacuse of the honey), gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free

Make Sweet Sauerkraut with Honey!

Sweet & sour cabbage (and sourkraut) has always been one of my favorite ways to eat cabbage.  My family used to go to this fantastic Bohemian/German resturant “Little Europe” in Brookfield Illinois when I was growing up.  We would get breaded pork tenderloins all around, with potato dumplings, goulash (or beef noodle soup), heaps of sweet and sour cabbage and sourkraut,  and of course kolachkes for dessert.  I’m drooling just thinking about it!  Little Europe has sinced closed, but I love sweet and sour cabbage to this day.  This recreation uses a red cabbage and some raw honey in a sweet vinegar dressing.

What’s In This Sweet & Sour Cabbage with Honey?

• Red Cabbage: or you can use green.  I made this recipe with one medium head of cabbage… and it still made a lot!  I’m always surprised how much cabbage actually ‘expands’ when you chop it, becuase its so dense when its grown.
• Raw Honey: We use our own honey, straight out of the beehives for us!  As beekeepers, we have plenty of raw honey so I try to use it in all my recipes instead of sugar.  I’d recommend trying a local farmers market to find the best raw honey in your area. Or else, this raw organic honey online here is the next best thing.
• Balsamic Vinegar: which gives this cabbage a nice sweetness and acidity. I use this Colavita balsamic because it has a really great flavor for a store-bought vinegar.
• Apple Juice: I use this to give the cabbage a sweet fruity flavor, without adding any actual sugar. I like these no sugar added apple juices which come in smaller containers, perfect for adding a touch to this cabbage recipe.
• Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry.  For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: I like to use a pink Himalayan Sea Salt in my kitchen, which has more natural minerals than plain processed table salt.  It’s fairly inexpensive, so I’d recommend this salt if you’re looking for an easy way to level up your spice pantry.
• Tellicherry Black Pepper: Like the salt, it’s amazing the flavor difference you can get with really good tellicherry black pepper.  This pepper is the same price is buying pre-ground, and has a million times more flavor!  I use these really great tellicherry peppercorns, which I would definitely recommend. 

Red cabbage and apples is a classic combo – so I decided to give it a new twist by using apple juice in this recipe.  It has all the sweetness of the apples, but also gives the cabbage a nice flavorful broth to simmer in.

Easy Weeknight Cabbage Recipes

This honey sweet & sour cabbage recipe is what I call an Easy Weeknight Meal – which is on your table in about 30 minutes.  These quick and simple recipes are perfect for those nights when you want a healthy homecooked meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I have a whole section of The Herbeevore dedicated to Easy Weeknight Meals, that are great for the whole family. From soups and stews, to pastas and proteins – a healthy meal can be on your table in no time.  Even faster than ordering takeout!

How Do I Make This Naturally Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Honey?

• In a large pot, add the shredded cabbage and olive oil.  Heat over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently until cabbage has begun to wilt.
• Add the apple juice, raw honey, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to the pot.  Stir well to combine.
• Cover the pot, and heat on low for about 30 minutes until cabbage is cooked through

Dietary Modifications

• This recipe is naturally vegetarian, but because raw honey isn’t technically vegan, you can substitute maple syrup or brown sugar instead of honey in this recipe if you don’t eat animal products.
• This cabbage is gluten free!
• It’s also refined sugar free, but make sure you are using 100% apple juice and not a blend or mix that has added sugar.

Other Healthy Recipes With Raw Honey We Love!

Sweet & Sour Honey Cabbage

Kelly Jensen

This sweet and sour red cabbage with raw honey is a bright and flavorful side dish! Made with healthy red cabbage and honey right from the hive!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Bohemian, German

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 medium head red cabbage shredded
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

 

• In a large pot, add the shredded cabbage and olive oil.  Heat over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently until cabbage has begun to wilt.
• Add the apple juice, raw honey, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to the pot.  Stir well to combine.
• Cover the pot, and heat on low for about 30 minutes until cabbage is cooked through.

Notes

• We try to cook as low sodium as possible, so you can add additional salt or pepper to suit your tastes.
• Same with the sweetness: if you need more sweetness, add more honey or apple juice.

Keyword Cabbage with Honey Recipe, Raw Honey Recipes, Raw Honey Recipes with Vegetables, Red Cabbage with Honey, Red Cabbage with Raw Honey, Sweet and sour Red Cabbage with Raw Honey

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