Substitutions:
Don’t stick to this exact recipe. Check out these great substitution ideas.
1- White cabbage – while this version does not produce as dramatic results as its flamboyant red cousin, white cabbage is a workhorse.
2-Butternut Squash – while this is a lovely pumpkin side dish for Thanksgiving, get creative and substitute different squash varieties, like butternut for the pumpkin. Acorn or spaghetti squash are also great alternatives.
3- Swap out the seeds or substitute them for nuts. Save the seeds when you roast the squash substitution, then roast them separately to substitute for the pumpkin seeds. Or, use walnuts or almonds instead of pumpkin seeds for another layer of flavor.
Schmand?
This Red Cabbage Pumpkin Torte recipe contains Schmand, a type of dairy product popular in Germany and in other parts of Europe. It is similar to sour cream but has a slightly higher fat content, typically around 20-24%. Schmand is often used in cooking and baking to add richness and creaminess to dishes. The taste is tangy and creamy, making it a versatile ingredient in savory and sweet recipes.
Schmand is a hard item to find in the USA. However, the good news is you can make your own by placing 16oz of full-fat cottage cheese and 8oz of cream cheese in a blender or food processor and pulsing until the mixture is completely combined, smooth, and creamy. The recipe card below includes this homemade recipe for Schmand.
Red Cabbage Pumpkin Torte
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature, cut into pieces
- salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 head of red cabbage roughly 2 lbs
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup red wine
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 lb peeled and chopped pie pumpkin
- 1 medium-sized red onion
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- ground nutmeg
- 1 cup Schmand* recipe below
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
Instructions
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Place the flour, butter pieces a pinch of salt, and 1 egg in the bowl of your stand mixer and knead together with the dough hook attachment.
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When the dough comes together (it won't completely, it will be crumbly and flakey like pie crust) form into a round.
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Wrap tightly in plastic cling film. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
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Rinse the red cabbage and cut it into quarters. Remove and discard the stem.
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Hack each quarter section into shreds.
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Heat 3 tablespoons of water and the white granulated sugar in a large saucepan. When the sugar has dissolved and begins to caramelize, turning golden brown, add the red wine. As soon as the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat.
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Add the red cabbage pieces into the pan and toss to coat.
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Cook the cabbage, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. It should soften and reduce in volume by almost half. Drain and set aside.
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Cut the pumpkin into small chunks. Peel the red onions and slice them into pieces.
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Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook, stirring occasionally until they become transparent. Add the pumpkin pieces, mix together, and cook for 5 minutes. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Sprinkle in the ground nutmeg.
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Mix the red onion, and pumpkin mixture together with the cooked red cabbage. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Grease and flour and 10" springform pan.
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Remove the dough from the refrigerator.
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Transfer the dough to the pan and use your fingers to press it into the bottom of the pan and about 1/2 inch up the sides. Line the bottom with baking paper. Add pie weights on top and blind bake for 10 minutes. If you don't have pie weights you can use pennies or dry beans. Another method is to use a slightly smaller same type of pan and place it inside the larger one on top of the crust.
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Whisk together the Schmand and the remaining three eggs. Add salt and freshly ground pepper.
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Retrieve the crust from the oven. Remove the pie weights. Spread out the red cabbage, pumpkin, and onion mixture evenly into the pan on top of the crust. Pour the schmand egg mixture over the top.
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Sprinkle the chopped pumpkin seeds over the top.
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Return the pan to the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
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Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.
Recipe Notes
*To make Schmand:
8 oz of cream cheese
16 oz container of full-fat cottage cheese.
Place both ingredients in a blender food processor and puree until smooth.
So, do you like this Red Cabbage Pumpkin Torte? Also, check out some of these other delicious recipes:
TURKEY MEATBALLS IN YOGURT SAUCE
APPLE CINNAMON RED CABBAGE
RAINBOW VEGETABLE FLAMMKUCHEN
