Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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A quick & easy recipe for Pickled Red Cabbage. Crunchy, zingy & delicious – perfect addition to kebabs equally at home with cold meats & cheese at Christmas.

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (1)

Here at the Kitchen Shed we love making pickles and chutney and it seems a lot of our readers do too. Spicy Courgette Chutney is one of our most popular recipes on the blog.


Pickles, chutneys and jams are a great way to preserve vegetables and fruit for the winter months. I love making extra jars for our Christmas hampers and in recent years Easy Pickled Red Cabbage has featured in every hamper I’ve put together.

Although I originally made our Pickled Red Cabbage recipe especially for our Chicken Kebabs Take Away Style, it’s great to have in your store cupboard since it’s such a delicious pickle and it goes with just about everything. Not to mention the beautiful red colour, which I just love !

What do we need to make Easy Pickled Red Cabbage ?

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (2)

You only need a few ingredients to make your Quick and Easy Pickled Red Cabbage.

Red cabbage

Choose a fresh firm red cabbage. Pickles and chutneys are only as good as the ingredients you use. Use crisp, fresh cabbage because if you start with limp cabbage you will end up with soft pickled cabbage and no crunch.

Salt

A good coarse salt (I used a coarse sea salt) will break down the cabbage and pull out the water, resulting in a crisper crunchy pickled red cabbage.

Vinegar

I use cider vinegar with a small amount of balsamic and red wine vinegar for added flavour.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any balsamic or red wine vinegar, cider vinegar on its own will still be tasty.
You will often see malt vinegar used in recipes but I feel it overpowers the red cabbage.

Spices and Herbs

I’ve used coriander seeds, our favourite pickle spice, as we love the pop of citrus.
A bay leaf goes in each jar along with the coriander seeds.

Sterilised jars

You will need 4 or 5 x 500ml ( 1 pint ) sterilised jars with screw top lids.

HOW TO STERILISE JARS


I like to sterilise jam jars in the microwave.

Simply clean them as normal and rinse but whilst they are wet, pop them in the microwave for two minutes on full power.

Remember the jars will be very hot, so remove with care.

Alternatively, wash jars in the dishwasher on a hot cycle.

Always sterilise more jars than you think you will need.

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (3)

How to make Pickled Cabbage

A really easy recipe with no overnight soaking of cabbage and no boiling of vinegar ! Although ready after one week, we’ve eaten it after two days.

Firstly, prepare the cabbage by discarding the outer leaves. Cut into quarters and finely slice, or if you want a chunky version, thicker slices.

Then it’s time to get all that excess water out of the cabbage for extra crunchy pickle. It’s best to work over a sink for this and wear gloves to prevent purple fingers.

Place the shredded cabbage in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Scrunch and break down the cabbage for five minutes. You will be amazed at how much water comes out of the cabbage.

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (4)

Leave to rest for ten minutes before rinsing out the salt and drain well.

Lastly, it’s time to pickle.


Half fill the jars with the drained red cabbage and place in your bay leaf and half a teaspoon of coriander seeds.

Add a tablespoon of balsamic and red wine vinegar.


Top up your jars with the remaining red cabbage and then fill with cider vinegar before sealing the jars.

After a couple of hours, check the vinegar level to make sure it completely covers the cabbage.


Store in a dry place out of sunlight for a week.

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (5)

How long does Pickled Cabbage keep ?

It will keep for up to two months stored in a dry place out of sunlight. It will keep for much longer but will lose its crispness after ten weeks or so.

What to serve it with

Pickled red cabbage is so versatile it will perk up almost any dish. Try in a hot dog, in a taco, with falafel or a cheese and meat platter at Christmas.

Our favourite way to serve pickled red cabbage is with our Homemade Chicken Kebabs with pittas and salad to recreate a takeaway.

Spicy Courgette Chutney

Sweet and Spicy Chilli Jam

Homemade Chilli Sauce

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Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (6)

Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe

A quick & easy recipe for Pickled Red Cabbage. Crunchy, zingy & delicious – perfect addition to kebabs equally at home with cold meats & cheese at Christmas.

5 from 62 votes

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Course: Jams, Pickles, Chutneys, Sauces, Dips & Spreads, Side Dish

Cuisine: British

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Pickling Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 32 50g portions

Calories: 12kcal

Author: Sarah James

50g portions

Equipment

  • 4 x 500ml sterilised jars with screw top lids

Ingredients

  • 1 kg red cabbage 1 medium sized red cabbage
  • 100 g coarse sea salt
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 litre cider vinegar
  • 4 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  • Discard outer leaves of your cabbage.

  • Cut cabbage into quarters, remove the stalks and slice into fine shreds – or chunky if you prefer.

  • Place cabbage in a colander (over the sink) and sprinkle with the salt.

  • Scrunch and break down the cabbage for 5 minutes. (You may want to wear gloves for this unless you fancy purple fingers)

  • Leave to rest for 10 minutes.

  • Rinse out the salt and drain well.

  • Pack the jars half full with cabbage. Add ½ teaspoon coriander seeds and a bay leaf.

  • Add a tablespoon of red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar to each jar.

  • Pour the cider vinegar to cover the cabbage.

  • Pack the rest of the red cabbage into each jar and top up with cider vinegar to cover.

  • Seal jars with a metal screwcap lid.

  • After a couple of hours, check the vinegar level to make sure it completely covers the cabbage.

  • Store in a dry place out of sunlight.

  • Ready to eat after one week. Will keep for up to two months.

Notes

  1. Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
  2. Each serving is based on 50g per person. The recipe makes approx 4 jars.
  3. Easy Pickled Red Cabbage will keep for up to two months stored in a dark, dry cupboard.
  4. It will keep for much longer but but will lose its crispness after 10 to 12 weeks or so.

Serving: 1g | Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 349IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

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Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (7)
Easy Pickled Red Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why add vinegar to red cabbage? ›

When cooked in an alkaline liquid like water, red cabbage turns blue. Adding vinegar, lemon juice, or another acid helps the cabbage to retain its red-purple color. Vinegar is also a bright flavor complement to the bold, earthy taste of the cabbage.

How long does pickled red cabbage keep? ›

Pickled red cabbage will last in a tightly sealed jar for about two weeks in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that this is a quick pickling recipe, NOT a canning recipe. You would need to follow the appropriate instructions regarding food safety and cleanliness if you were looking to make a shelf-stable canned cabbage.

Is pickled red cabbage good for you? ›

2,3 These antioxidants have properties that help to reduce inflammation in our bodies, as well as protect our hearts. 2,3 Additionally, red cabbage also contains high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin K. 3 Together, these two nutrients assist with skin health, wound healing, blood clotting and bone health!

How do you pickle cabbage for long term storage? ›

You need just 5 fresh ingredients plus some basic pickling ingredients: vinegar, sugar, and salt.
  1. Toss the vegetables with salt and let them sit.
  2. Pack them in a jar.
  3. Mix and pour in the brine.
  4. Wait a few hours, and enjoy.
Sep 9, 2021

What happens when you add lemon juice to red cabbage juice? ›

The red cabbage liquid has a blue-violet color, but when it comes in contact with acidic substances it becomes red, while in contact with basic substances it becomes green and even yellow. Lemon juice being acidic turns red in contact with red cabbage juice.

What does lemon juice do to red cabbage? ›

Substances such as lemon juice and vinegar turn the cabbage juice red because they are acidic.

Can you eat too much pickled cabbage? ›

Yes, it is possible to eat too much sauerkraut. Consuming large amounts of sauerkraut can lead to digestive discomfort, such as bloating and gas. Additionally, sauerkraut is high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure and other health problems if consumed in excessive amounts.

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.

What is the difference between pickling and quick pickling? ›

Traditional pickle making includes canning, which uses high temperatures to sterilize and create an airtight seal that further preserves the contents from spoilage. Quick pickling uses the same basic ingredients as traditional pickling but you skip the canning process and store them in your refrigerator.

Does red cabbage cleanse your colon? ›

Packed with phytosterols (plant sterols) and insoluble fiber, cabbage can help keep your digestive system healthy and bowel movements regular. It fuels the good bacteria in your gut that protects your immune system and produces essential nutrients.

Why do you boil vinegar when pickling? ›

Quick pickling, or refrigerator pickling, involves a simple boil-and-pour method of pickling. You take all of your ingredients, apart from the product that is being pickled, and bring them to a boil. The heating process helps activate the flavors in the brine and marry them together.

Is red cabbage anti inflammatory? ›

Purple cabbage is a nutrient-rich vegetable linked to a variety of health benefits, including reduced inflammation, a healthier heart, stronger bones, improved gut function, and maybe a lower risk of certain cancers. Purple cabbage, also referred to as red cabbage, belongs to the Brassica genus of plants.

What is the best container for pickling cabbage? ›

A 5 gallon stone crock is the ideal size for fermenting about 25 pounds of fresh cabbage or cucumbers. Food grade plastic and glass containers are excellent substitutes for stone crocks. Other 1 to 3 gallon nonfood grade plastic containers may be used if lined with a clean food grade plastic bag.

Can you freeze red cabbage? ›

Freeze the cooked, cooled red cabbage up to 3 months ahead, defrost completely, then reheat in a pan to serve. Wear rubber gloves when peeling red cabbage so your hands don't stain.

What to eat with pickled red cabbage? ›

Eat pickled purple cabbage as a side salad, or add to dishes like fish tacos, pulled pork, or barbecued beef. Keep unused portion refrigerated. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Will adding vinegar to cabbage during cooking make it turn blue? ›

If you add vinegar it will stay the original color. The reddish pigment in the cabbage acts as a pH indicator like litmus paper. Your method of cooking is alkaline which isn't bad but would change the color of cabbage.

Is cooked cabbage with vinegar good for you? ›

Red cabbage offers another bonus: It's rich in natural pigments called anthocyanins, which new research suggests may help boost insulin production and lower blood sugar levels. Finally, cabbage is often prepared with vinegar, which can help lower the GL of your whole meal.

How do you make red cabbage less bitter? ›

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 happens when you add acid to cabbage? ›

The color of the cabbage indicator will change to red or pink if the solution is an acid and it will change to green or yellow if it is a base. It will remain purple or blue if the test solution is neutral.

References

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