Traditional German Red Cabbage – Oma's Rotkohl
If you love cabbage, this German red cabbage recipe is a must! Its sweet and sour flavor makes it the perfect side for rouladen, meatloaf, or any hearty German meal — simply wunderbar!
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
60 minutes
Total Time:
70 minutes
Servings:
6-8 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 - 3 tablespoons (30-45 ml) bacon fat, butter, or oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 head red cabbage, shredded (about 2 pounds/900 g)
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (16 g) cornstarch
Instructions:
- In a large saucepan or large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Lightly sauté onion.
- Add cabbage. Continue to sauté for several minutes, stirring. When some of the cabbage has browned, add about 1 cup of water.
- Add salt, pepper, cloves, and sugar. Stir.
- Bring to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 30 - 60 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Add a little water, as necessary, and stir occasionally during simmering.
- Once cabbage is tender, add vinegar. This will give the cabbage that beautiful red color. Taste, and season with more salt, cloves, pepper, sugar, and/or extra vinegar as needed.
- Mix cornstarch with cold water and slowly stir in just enough to thicken the liquid. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Hints:
- Traditionally, this is cooked until nearly soft and tender. If you prefer a bit more texture, slice instead of shredding and cook for about 30 minutes.
- For extra flavor, swap water for apple juice and use apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge—it tastes even better the next day!
- If using whole cloves, halve the onion and stud the cut side with 4 to 6 cloves. Skip sautéing and remove the onion before serving.
- This pairs beautifully with German classics like rouladen and schnitzel, as well as roast beef or chicken.
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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com
Recipe update: February 7, 2025