Red Cabbage
Red cabbage with dessert apples and apple juice is a classic sweet-and-sour side, slowly braised until tender in the Thermomix. The apple juice and sugar balance the earthy cabbage, while the TM7 stirs automatically so nothing catches on the bottom. Ideal accompaniment to roasted meats or a festive winter dinner.
About this recipe
Red cabbage Thermomix TM7 is a heartwarming winter classic that belongs on every festive table. Searching for easy red cabbage recipes that braise themselves while you get on with the rest of the dinner? This all-in-one kitchen machine does exactly that: the TM7 heats and stirs the shredded cabbage with dessert apples, apple juice, sugar, sea salt and pepper automatically, so the sweet-and-sour balance develops without you lifting a spoon. The apple juice keeps the cabbage tender and glossy, while the dessert apples slowly melt into a soft, aromatic sauce that pairs beautifully with roasted meats, sausages or a vegetarian Sunday roast. As a make-ahead side it even improves in flavour overnight, making it ideal for Christmas dinners and busy weeknight menus alike. With the TM7 you also weigh the sugar and salt directly in the bowl, and clean-up afterwards is minimal compared to stovetop braising in a heavy pan.
Preparation tips
- Cut the red cabbage into quarters first and remove the hard core before adding wedges to the bowl, so the blade can process it evenly without tough pieces remaining in the finished braised cabbage.
- Add the dessert apples in larger chunks rather than grated; they break down during braising and create a naturally sweet, silky sauce that binds the apple juice with the cabbage.
- This braised red cabbage tastes even better the next day, so make it a day ahead and reheat gently before serving; it also freezes well in portions for quick winter dinners.
Recipe variations
- For a festive Christmas variation, add a cinnamon stick, a few cloves and a splash of red wine vinegar to the red cabbage, giving it the classic spiced flavour that pairs perfectly with roast goose or turkey.
- A budget-friendly variation swaps the apple juice for water with an extra dessert apple and a squeeze of lemon, keeping the sweet-sour balance while making the recipe cheaper and lighter.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing the sugar and sea salt directly in the mixing bowl ensures the sweet-sour balance of the braised red cabbage is exact every time. [Precision Control]
- Grating the dessert apples in seconds gives the red cabbage a soft, sauce-like sweetness without any manual effort on a box grater. [Multi-Function]
- Steaming the cabbage gently with apple juice keeps the vegetable tender while preserving its deep purple colour and fresh bite. [Multi-Function]
- Heating with automatic stirring prevents the sugar in the red cabbage from catching and caramelising on the base of the bowl. [Hands-Free]
- Chopping a whole red cabbage quarter into fine, even shreds takes only moments, far quicker than slicing it by hand with a knife. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- red cabbage
- dessert apples
- apple juice
- brown sugar
- fine sea salt
- ground black pepper