Hi, I'm Oma (aka Renee)! Today, I'm bringing you my traditional German Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage recipe that's as vibrant in flavor as it is colorful!
German and German-inspired recipes call to me. They're certainly some of my favorites on the website, and I would be thrilled for you to enjoy them as well. German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich), Bratwurst Appetizer Bites, Knockwurst Sandwich, and Zuckerkuchen (sugar cake), are just a few of the German recipes I want to call to your attention just in case you haven't seen them before.
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Go directly to the recipe.
- The ingredients:
- Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- Ingredient add-ins and substitutions:
- Everything old is new again:
- Can this German vegetable dish be made in advance?
- Can the bacon be left out of this recipe if desired?
- Can turkey bacon be used to make sweet and sour red cabbage?
- What type of vinegar is best for German red cabbage?
- Can sweet and sour red cabbage be finished in the oven?
- How many servings does this recipe make?
- Can cooked red cabbage be frozen?
- Additional recipes featuring cabbages:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
The ingredients:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- large high-sided skillet
- slotted spatula
- chefs knife
- cutting board
- measuring cups and spoons
- slotted spoon
Ingredient add-ins and substitutions:
Everything old is new again:
I originally published this recipe post in October of 2013.
That's a long time ago.
Today, I'm updating and republishing this post with additional information, new photos, a recipe card, and a video.
Pretty much the whole thing is getting an overhaul, except for the recipe itself.
That hasn't changed, because it was already amazing.
Can this German vegetable dish be made in advance?
Can the bacon be left out of this recipe if desired?
Can turkey bacon be used to make sweet and sour red cabbage?
What type of vinegar is best for German red cabbage?
Can sweet and sour red cabbage be finished in the oven?
How many servings does this recipe make?
Can cooked red cabbage be frozen?
Additional recipes featuring cabbages:
Creamed Cabbage with Caraway and Sausage is a deliciously hearty meal. It's a quick cooking, comforting meal that's perfect for any night of the week.
This Corned Beef and Cabbage Coleslaw is my fun and unusual take on Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage only this is a dish best served chilled.
Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad is one of the most popular recipes on my site. Once you try this colorful, delicious, and healthy cold salad, you'll understand why.
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did. Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
Oma's Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Equipment
- Dutch oven optional
- large high-sided skillet optional
Ingredients
- 1 medium red cabbage cored and sliced
- ½ pound bacon cut into 1" pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup brown sugar loosely packed
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a large high-sided skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until almost crisp. Drain off some of the grease but leave about 2 tablespoons in the pan.
- Add the sliced red onion to the pot cook, stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes. Add in the sliced cabbage, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir well to combine.
- Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the brown sugar, vinegar, and balsamic vinegar.
- Continue cooking, stirring occasionally for an additional 15 minutes until the cabbage has reduced in volume, and is soft in texture.
- Optional - Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C) and add place the pot of sauteed cabbage in the oven to cook for 15-20 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you will enjoy making (and eating) this German red cabbage vegetable side dish as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Debbie Purvis says
Can I use stevia instead of sugar? How many carbs is this?
Renée says
Hi, Debbie!
Great question, and by all means, please feel free to substitute stevia for the brown sugar.
I'll work on the recipe card feature shortly and will add it to the post. It will include the carb count along with the calories, but be warned that the calorie and carb count will be calculated using brown sugar, and not stevia.
Having said that, if you are going to substitute stevia for the brown sugar, I worry that you won't get the depth of flavor that the brown sugar adds to this dish. To compensate, might I suggest that you add approximately 1 tablespoon of molasses along with the substitution of stevia to give the dish a bit more *oomph* (German speak. LOL)
Thanks for your question and I hope this answer helps.
Please check the recipe later today for the recipe card with the nutritional information.
Have a great day!
Renee