This is a holiday side dish with a super star. quality. So move over mashed potatoes. Because there’s a new side dish in town, and it’s stealing the spotlight. Meet Spiced Red Cabbage with Dates, Currants, and Walnuts. This vibrant, tangy, and slightly sweet dish is as bold as it is beautiful. Think of it as Germany’s answer to your usual vegetable sides. However, this one is a party in a pot.
Let’s talk about those spices. Bay leaves, juniper berries, whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, and black peppercorns are the aromatic stars here. They turn humble cabbage into something fit for royalty. Furthermore, let’s not ignore the liquid orchestra of cranberry juice, red currant jam, and balsamic vinegar. Together, they create a melody of tart, sweet, and tangy that’ll make your taste buds sing “Ode to Joy.”
Spiced Red Cabbage
This dish doesn’t stop at “delicious.” No, it kicks things up with dried currants, sticky-sweet dates, and sugared walnuts. Yes, walnuts are sauteed in brown sugar. Consequently, it’s like the cabbage got invited to a fancy gala and decided to wear sequins.
Sure, this beauty takes a little time. However, the simmering is an act of love, not a chore. So think of it as the ultimate self-care ritual for your holiday table. Just pop it on the stove, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine, and let the magic happen.
So What to serve it with?
What does Spiced Red Cabbage perfectly pair with? Let me count the ways. Roast duck? Yes. Glazed ham? Absolutely. Turkey? Gobble it up. Furthermore, it’s also a fabulous match for nut roasts or hearty lentil loaf if you’re going plant-based. Then, add some crusty bread or buttery mashed potatoes to scoop up the juices, and your holiday meal just hit gourmet levels.
Spiced Red Cabbage with Dates and Walnuts isn’t just a side dish—it’s a holiday experience. So bring this to the table, and your guests might not even notice the main course.
Spiced Red Cabbage with Dates & Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1 3 lb red cabbage
- 3 red onions
- 2 tablespoons clarified butter
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 juniper berries
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 black peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1+1/4 cups cranberry juice
- 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 5 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cups chopped pitted dates
- 1/4 cup dried currants
- 5 tablespoons currant jam
Instructions
-
Peel any damaged leaves off of the cabbage. Cut in half.
-
Cut out the stem and slice the leaves into ribbons.
-
Peel and dice the onions
-
Heat the clarified butter in a large skillet.
-
Add the onions. Toss to coat and cook stirring for 2 minutes.
-
Add the cabbage and mix to combine.
-
Cook stirring for 3-4 minutes
-
Stir in the bay leaves, juniper berries, cloves, and the cinnamon stick.
-
Season with salt.
-
Add the cranberry juice and balsamic vinegar.
-
Cook stirring until the liquid starts to bubble.
-
Turn the heat down low. Cover and let cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-
Lay a piece of baking paper next to the stove.
-
Heat the sugar in a small skillet. Stir until it becomes melted and brown.
-
Add the walnuts to the sugar and stir to coat. Stir for 1 minute.
-
Transfer the nuts to the baking paper.
-
When they have cooled, chop them up into pieces.
-
After one hour, remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick.
-
Add the chopped dates and the dried currants to the pan. Stir in the currant jam.
-
Let cook for another 15 minutes, stirring a few times.
-
Taste and season with more salt, sugar, or balsamic vinegar as desired.
-
Transfer the cabbage to a serving dish, sprinkle with the sugared almonds, and serve.
Like this Spice Red Cabbage? Also, check out some of these other delicious recipes:
CARAMELIZED SPICED SWEET POTATOES
SPICED HONEY SAUERKRAUT
SPICED PEAR STREUSEL CAKE
