Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (2024)

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This Roasted red cabbage is a simple side dish that is easy to make and full of flavor. You only need 5 everyday ingredients and a few minutes of prep to make this colorful nutritious dish.

Suitable for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (1)

Looking for more red cabbage recipes? Then you will love this simple roasted red cabbage recipe.

About that word I just used: ‘simple.’ I sometimes worry about using it when describing recipes because I fear some people hear ‘simple’ and think ‘boring’ or ‘bland.’

Simple, to me, means few ingredients but still maximum flavor. This roasted red cabbage recipe may not have 20 ingredients, but the flavor is still fantastic. I love serving it alongside Smashed Brussel Sprouts and this easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe.

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Why Roast Red Cabbage?

When roasted, red cabbage becomes even slightly sweeter than it naturally is already and becomes a nutritious and perfect side dish.

Roasting it gives it a fantastic texture. It’s not boring or soggy like some people may think of when they think of cooked cabbage – this roasted version has a light crunch to it. The edges become caramelized while still staying tender in the middle.

Other cabbage recipes you might like are Air Fryer Cabbage or this easy to make Smothered Cabbage.

And one of my favorite ever recipes Jamaican Steamed Cabbage.

Why Make This Recipe

  • Healthier – cabbage is light in calories, full of fibre and delicious.
  • Quick – it is quick and easy to whip up with only 5 ingredients.
  • Budget friendly – cabbage is always available and is a very affordable dish.
  • Versatile – it can serve as a main dish or as a side dish for example with Crockpot Whole Chicken.
  • Dietary – It’s perfect for vegetarians, vegans and gluten free diets.

Ingredient Notes

  • Red Cabbage – this recipe called for uncooked red cabbage (purple cabbage).
  • Olive oil – use your favorite olive oil or canola oil instead.
  • Spice – I love baharat spice blend, but you can use your favorite spice.
  • Salt – I love these best ever salt flakes.
  • Lemon juice – Brings all the flavors together.

How To Make Roasted Red Cabbage Recipe

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

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  1. Cut cabbage into 8 equal wedges using a sharp knife. Keep the core, as this keeps the cabbage wedges intact.
  2. Place cabbage steaks on a lightly oiled baking tray or pot and brush olive oil on the wedges.
  3. Sprinkle Baharat and salt on the wedges.
  4. Place in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F / fan-assisted 180 degrees C / 200 degrees C / gas 6 for about 20 minutes until the cabbage is softened and the edges begin to brown and caramelize.
  5. Remove roasted red cabbage wedges from the oven and drizzle with lemon juice.
  6. Add toppings as desired. I like to add toasted nuts – walnuts in this case – and chopped scallions (spring onions).
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Recipe Tips

  • For the best results use a very sharp knife to cut the cabbage.
  • If you prefer you would slice the cabbage into ribbons before roasting, but these will cook a little bit quicker that the wedges. Toss them half way through cooking so they cook evenly.

Delicious Variations

  • Vary the spice – other spice blends you can try include this Tuscan Seasoning Recipe, this Shawarma Seasoning Recipe, or this Greek Seasoning Recipe.
  • Add crunch – toasted nuts, such as walnuts and pecans, add crunch and flavor.
  • Add onions – chopped green onions (spring onions) add color and a little kick.

Storage

  • Store– Let cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat – reheat in a warm oven or in an air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through.

FAQs

How Do You Cut Red Cabbage For Roasting?

Prep the cabbage by removing all the wilting outer leaves.
Trim the top and bottom of the vegetable.

Then cut the vegetable into half lengthwise.
Cut each half into wedges of about half-inch thickness.
Leave the core in as this helps hold the cabbage wedges together.

Is Roasted Red Cabbage Good For You?

Yes, roasted red cabbage is good for you, as it comes with health benefits such as being high in fiber, packed with essential vitamins and minerals, and it is quite low in both fat and calories.

How Many Calories in Cabbage?

There are 28 calories per 1 cup (90g) of cabbage. Making red cabbage ‘guilt free’, so eat as much as you’d like. You probably won’t be eating cabbage as a low-calorie dessert anytime soon, but it’s quite tasty for so few calories.

How Many Carbs in Cabbage?

Red cabbage is quite lowin carbs. There are 7 grams of carbohydrates in 1 cup of chopped red cabbage (90g), but once you subtract the dietary fiber (1.9g), you’re left with 5.1g ‘net carbs.’

(No, this post has not been sponsored by the ‘Cabbage Council,’ if there is such a thing. Just a cabbage fan here.)

Is Red Cabbage Anti-inflammatory?

Red cabbage contains phytonutrients that have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that cabbage can help to reduce swelling due to inflammation and arthritis.

5 Red Cabbage Benefits

Red cabbage isn’t just a pretty and brightly colored veg – it comes with quite a few health benefits too. To name a few red cabbage benefits:

  • It’s high in fiber. That means it keeps our digestive system running well.
  • It’s rich in Vitamin K. A half-cup (45g) of red cabbage contains as much Vitamin K as an adult needs in a day. Vitamin K assists the blood in clotting – very important for those of us who spend a lot of time in the kitchen using sharp knives.
  • It can provide probiotics when fermented. When cabbage is fermented (‘kimchi’), healthy probiotics that are good for our gut are produced.
  • It’s loaded with Vitamin C. One cup (90g) contains about as much Vitamin C as an orange.
  • It’s low in calories. There are just 28 calories in one cup (90g) of cabbage.
Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (4)

A Few Red Cabbage Recipes Ideas For The Holiday

This is the perfect Christmas recipe, but it’s not the only red cabbage recipe you can eat for Christmas. If you’d like to have a ‘red cabbage Christmas,’ here are a few other ways to enjoy it for the holiday:

  • Make a green cabbage-red cabbage Christmas slaw for a festive-looking side dish.Because ‘red’ cabbage is more purple than red, you’ll have to pretend a bit here, but it’s Christmas… make-believe is both allowed and encouraged.
  • Or make stir-fry red cabbage with kale. The red cabbage still won’t be red, but the kale will certainly be green. If you can get the kiddos to try it, add a dusting of parmesan cheese on top for a little snow-like effect.
  • Go for something sweeter like braised red cabbage and apples. Adding cinnamon, cardamom, and anise will give it a delicious flavor.
Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (5)

More Cabbage Recipes

If you liked this red cabbage recipe, you’ll love these that are as mouth-watering as they sound:

  • Air Fryer Cabbage. Quick and easy to do.
  • Smothered Cabbage. This Southern staple is a great holiday dish.
  • Instant Pot Cabbage. Buttered cabbage is easily made in your pressure cooker.
  • Southern Slaw Recipe. I love this with burgers, grilled meat, or just simple baked potatoes.

More Roasted Vegetable Recipes

  • Roasted Frozen Brussel Sprouts. Can be made all year long.
  • Roasted Frozen Broccoli. Just as easy to whip up.

Serving Suggestions

This can be served in so many ways. As a main dish vegan option, you can serve these cabbage steaks topped with a grain like bulgur, Quinoa, or Brown Rice.

You can serve it with some Air Fryer Whole Chicken, or a Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and this delicious Air Fryer Turkey Breast, or some easy peasy Smothered Turkey Wings.

Feel free to serve it in sandwiches, rice bowl and salads too.

Weight Watchers Points

There is just 1 Blue Plan SmartPoint in one serving of this.

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Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (6)

Print Recipe

4.91 from 11 votes

Roasted Red Cabbage

Roasted red cabbage is a nutritious dish that is easy to make and full of flavor.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Western

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 8

Calories: 57kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 1 medium red cabbage with the loose outer leaves removed
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Baharat spice blend
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • toasted nuts optional for topping
  • scallions (spring onions) optional for topping

UK Measures**Convert to US Measures**

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C / fan-assisted 180 degrees C / gas 6.

  • Cut red cabbage into 8 wedges, making sure to leave the core as this keep the wedges intact.

  • Place the wedges on a lightly oiled baking sheet and then brush the oil over the wedges.

  • Sprinkle on the Baharat and salt.

  • Bake cabbage in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until the cabbage is softened and the edges start to turn brown.

  • Remove from the oven, drizzle on the lemon juice, add toppings (if desired), and serve.

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Nutrition

Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1170IU | Vitamin C: 61.2mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Roasted Red Cabbage – An Easy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to prepare red cabbage? ›

Red cabbages are easy to prepare. Strip off the outer leaves, wash, then slice into quarters, cut out the hard central core on each, then chop or shred. Lock in the colour by adding a touch of vinegar when cooking red cabbage in water. This stops the lovely deep purple hue from running.

What pairs well with red cabbage? ›

Sautéed red cabbage is a versatile side dish you can serve with a variety of main dishes including pork chops, sausages (especially smoked sausages), roast pork, roast chicken, duck, lentils, beans, and chickpeas. Also, try it with a boldly flavored fish such as salmon.

How to cook red cabbage and keep its color? ›

Red cabbages can be stored in a cool, dark place for a week to ten days. Before cooking, remove any tired or discoloured leaves and always cook red cabbage with a little vinegar. This preserves the beautiful purple colour – without it, the cabbage will turn blue!

What meat goes with red cabbage? ›

Sweet and sour red cabbage is a perfect side dish for sausages, pork chops, schnitzel or German pork burgers. This braised cabbage also pairs well with roast chicken, duck, and roast beef.

What is the healthiest way to eat red cabbage? ›

You can add this versatile vegetable to soups, stews, salads, and coleslaw. It's delicious raw, steamed, sautéed, or fermented. It retains the most nutrients when it's eaten raw but is still highly nutritious when cooked. The flavor becomes a little milder when you cook it.

What does baking soda do to red cabbage? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

What does red cabbage do to your body? ›

Being rich in compounds like sulforaphane and anthocyanins, red cabbage is certainly one vegetable to add to your diet. These beneficial compounds appear to prevent oxidative damage and possibly act in protective way against cancer, including colorectal cancer.

Why do you soak red cabbage in water? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

How do you take the bitterness out of red cabbage? ›

I prefer to keep it simple – fresh lemon juice does the job just as well. Add a little salt and the two combine to help draw out some of the fluid and bitterness, making the cabbage slightly softer and easy one the palate.

What color does lemon juice turn red cabbage? ›

Red cabbage contains a chemical called anthocyanin. This pigment is a natural acid-base indicator. It is blue in neutral substances, like plain water. When an acid like lemon juice gets in the water, a reaction makes the indicator molecule change shape and it looks pink.

Why did my red cabbage turn blue when I cooked it? ›

These pigments are also the reason why red cabbage turns a strange shade of blue when it's cooked: Extraordinarily sensitive to acidity, anthocyanins will turn blue when their environment goes a little alkaline; say, when tap water is added to a cooked dish (via Cook's Illustrated).

What does cooked red cabbage taste like? ›

While similar in flavor to its green counterpart, red cabbage tends to have a more pronounced earthy taste, complemented by a subtle underlying sweetness. This vibrant vegetable easily elevates coleslaws and salads with its bold color and distinctive crunch.

What flavors go well with red cabbage? ›

But keep in mind that these colorful cabbages contain more than just sulfurous notes, so be sure to play up the other aromas, too! Their green-grassy flavor goes well with tomatoes, parsley, bay leaves, sage, elderberries and Gin Mare.

Can you cook red cabbage the same as regular cabbage? ›

Red and green cabbage can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The difference between cooking green cabbage and red cabbage is just one extra step. The compounds that give red cabbage its color, called anthocyanins, are water-soluble and will turn an unappetizing blue color when cooked.

Is it better to boil or steam red cabbage? ›

Steaming is an indirect cooking process which means delicate ingredients can be gently cooked to retain their flavour and nutrients. The benefit of steaming cabbage is that it doesn't produce the unpleasant smell associated with boiled cabbage.

Do you cook red cabbage like green cabbage? ›

Red and green cabbage can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The difference between cooking green cabbage and red cabbage is just one extra step. The compounds that give red cabbage its color, called anthocyanins, are water-soluble and will turn an unappetizing blue color when cooked.

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