Braised Cabbage and Apples

With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, it’s a good time to start planning your menu. Side dishes like this red cabbage are so simple to make and add beautiful color to your spread. I also enjoy how this dish is sweet and tangy, which rounds out the richer, saltier holiday sides like mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing. Beyond the holiday season, I often serve this dish with grilled chicken sausage and egg noodles for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.

1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the fat starts to render. Add onions and cook for 2 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

2. Add cabbage and saute for 5 minutes, using tongs to move the cabbage around to make sure it starts to soften; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

3. Add wine, broth, cinnamon stick, brown sugar and cider vinegar. Mix well and reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and braise until cabbage is almost tender, 35-40 minutes.

4. Add apples; cover and braise for 5 minutes longer.

5. Remove cinnamon stick; taste the cabbage and season again with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to serving dish and enjoy!

Braised Cabbage and Apples

Serves 8-10

All you need:

2 strips of thick-cut bacon, diced

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 head red cabbage, cored and sliced thin

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup red wine

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 cinnamon stick

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and diced

All you do:

1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the fat starts to render. Add onions and cook for 2 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
2. Add cabbage and saute for 5 minutes, using tongs to move the cabbage around to make sure it starts to soften; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
3. Add wine, broth, cinnamon stick, brown sugar and cider vinegar. Mix well and reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and braise until cabbage is almost tender, 35-40 minutes.
4. Add apples; cover and braise for 5 minutes longer.
5. Remove cinnamon stick; taste the cabbage and season again with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to serving dish and enjoy!