Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage Recipe (Vegetarian)

This sweet and sour red cabbage recipe is a bright and flavorful side dish! Made with healthy red cabbage, apple cider vinegar, and fruit! 

This is one side dish that is inexpensive, tasty, and great to serve along side any protein. A bright and flavorful side dish that is fantastic all year round.

This Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage Recipe Is:

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

Make Sweet Sauerkraut with Honey!

Sweet & sour cabbage (and sauerkraut) has always been one of my favorite ways to eat cabbage.  My family used to go to this fantastic Bohemian/German restaurant “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 sauerkraut,  and of course kolaches for dessert.  I’m drooling just thinking about it!  Little Europe has since 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 and Sour Cabbage Recipe?

• Red Cabbage – I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery.  You can get $10 off your first $30 box by clicking here! 
  If you think organic produce is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a look!

• 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 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.
• 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 Honey We Love!

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

The Herbeevore

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

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Bohemian, German

Servings 6 servings

Calories 156 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 medium head red cabbage shredded
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup raw honey or other natural sweetener
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Tellicherry Black Pepper

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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.

Save Money on Fresh Produce!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market - they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every week or so and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery.  You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here! 

If you think organic produce is too expensive... think again, and give Misfits Market a look!shed avocado worked wonders!

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 139mgPotassium: 402mgFiber: 3gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 1561IUVitamin C: 80mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 1mg

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