Red Cabbage Dish for Munch

Posted by: nicnaim on 16 December 2010

Stu,

Recipe below. Sorry about the imperial measurements, taken from a very old recipe book.

Chou Rouge A L'Aigre-Doux (Sweet-Sour Red Cabbage)

A Small red cabbage (about 2 lb)
2 Medium sized onions
2 Cooking apples
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons each of port (or other dessert wine) and wine vinegar
A Bouquet of parsley, thyme and bay leaf
Salt & pepper

Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage, cut off the stalk, cut the cabbage in quarters and cut out the hard white stalk. Slice the cabbage fairly thinly.

Arrange in layers in a deep earthenware pot alternately with the sliced onions and peeled, cored and sliced apples. Season as you go with the sugar, salt and pepper. Put the bouquet, tied with a thread, in the middle.

When all the ingredients are packed into the pot, pour over the wine and vinegar. Cover the pot; cook for about three hours in a low oven, Gas no. 2, 310 deg. F.

This amount is enough for four if served as an accompanying vegetable, and can very well be prepared a day in advance, as it improves, if anything with reheating. This goes well with roast hare and with sausages, goose and pork.

Elizabeth David - French Provincial Cooking (first published 1960)

This freezes really well so I often bag up smaller amounts for convenient use at a later stage. Get cooking and enjoy.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 18 December 2010 by akseland
Yum..!!

My mother makes a wonderful red cabbage.

Don't know the recipe but imagine it would be similar.

Red cabbage is a traditional part of a Danish Christmas lunch / dinner.. Served with pork, caramelised potatoes and other tasty bits.. Don't eat the pork these days though.

Off for a week.. will be interesting to make. Already thinking about an alternative to the pork to serve with.

Also, often had red cabbage with thick Danish sausages.. called .. Medista-polse.
Posted on: 18 December 2010 by Dungassin
At least it's not pickled. That was one my pet hates from childhood - pickled red cabbage. This recipe sounds quite interesting. Might give it a go after Christmas.
Posted on: 20 December 2010 by madasafish
I've substituted the sugar and vinegar in the first recipe with (up to) half a jar of orange marmalade. The thick shred stuff gives an occasional and very tasty bitter bite.
Posted on: 20 December 2010 by madasafish
p.s. also try a small piece of star anise if serving with goose or game.
Posted on: 20 December 2010 by JWM
Pressed for time and with a deadline, I managed to produced something very edible on a low heat on the hob. A key ingredient for us is some lightly crushed (bruised??!!) juniper berries.
Posted on: 20 December 2010 by Jono 13
Add saltanas for an extra fruit hit.

Jono
Posted on: 20 December 2010 by nicnaim
I'm sure Elizabeth David would heartily approve of experimentation with her recipes.

This recipe is foolproof, hence the reason why Stu requested another copy, but I like the Christmas flavour variations and may try them myself. I particularly like the sound of the star anise version (with sultanas).

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 21 December 2010 by tonym
This topic's come up in the past; the recipe I tried from someone's posting was cooked on the hob using fennel seeds, onions and a fair dollop of Balsamic vinegar.

It was absolutely delicious with cooked Gammon.
Posted on: 22 December 2010 by Mike-B
The balsamic recipe is my version of an old Czech friend. Anyone need a copy let me know.

I have also been playing with slow roast shoulder of lamb that is also good for pig & deer; its a rich sweet slurpy carnivorous overload of the yummy button. Again anyone need a copy just let me know.