Easy Dutch red cabbage with apples and pumpkin spice (WFPB, no oil)

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dinner

side dish

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Red cabbage with apples is a classic Dutch side dish, often gracing the table in the colder months. With its vibrant color and comforting warmth from spices like cinnamon, star anise and cloves. My whole-food plant-based (WFPB) version takes it up a notch with the addition of orange juice and dates. Making it ideal for both cozy evenings with the family and special gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gluten-free, oil-free and fat-free.

What to eat with red cabbage

This dish combines perfectly with a traditional Dutch stew. Authentically made from beef but I made this vegan, fatfree and Medical Medium version: Dutch mushroom stew with apple butter.

Other Dutch recipes

Do you like traditional Dutch cuisine? Than take a look at my Dutch kale ‘stamppot’ with shiitake mushrooms.

Ingredients

• Red cabbage – Use a fresh, whole red cabbage. Not pre-cut.
• Red onion – I like the taste of red onion. But a small onion or shallot are also fine.
• Apples – You can use any type of apple. Both ‘apple pie’ apples and the sweet and juicy ‘eating’ apples such as Fuji but also fresh sweet ones such as Granny Smith are fine.
• Oranges – Use regular squeeze oranges Medjool dates
• Medjoul dates – You get the best results with plump, full dates.
• Bay leaves, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves – Instead of a stick you can use regular cinnamon. Leave out the other spices or replace with some nutmeg (not too much), fennel seeds or cardamom.

Other autumn & winter recipes

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Dutch red cabbage with apples and pumpkin spice

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Red cabbage with apples is a classic Dutch side dish, often gracing the table in the colder months with its vibrant color and comforting warmth. This whole-food plant-based (WFPB) version takes the traditional recipe up a notch with the addition of dates. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and savory, making it an ideal accompaniment for any fall or winter feast.

Rate Print

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 309

Equipment

• cooking pot

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1 red cabbage
• 2 small onion, red
• 3 apples
• 3 oranges
• 6 Medjool dates
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 6 cloves

For AIP and free from seeds

• NO star anise

Instructions

Prep

• Remove the 2 outer leaves of the cabbage. Cut the cabbage in half and remove the harder white part (and stem if still attached). Slice the halfs thinly.
• Juice the oranges. Add water to the juice fill up 1 cup in total.
• Chop one onion into small pieces.
• The other onion stays in one piece, just remove the outer layer. Shove the cloves into the onion. That way you won't have to search for them later, and nobody will incidentally bite on them.
• If you have small, broken pieces of star anise: do the same. Whole or half stars can be found rather easily, no worries there.

Cooking

• Add the juice, the cabbage and the cut onion to a pot, bring to a soft boil. Add the bay leaves, cinnamon stick and star anise.
• Cut the dates in small pieces and add. Stir.
• Place the onion with the cloves on top. Wiggle and press it down until is covered.
• Let it simmer for 1 hour with the lid on.
• Wash the apples and cut in pieces.
• Remove the whole onion with the cloves. Count the remaining cloves. If less then put in, not much harm us done, but best to warn your guests.
• Add in the apples and stir. Let simmer for another 15 minutes.
• Remove cinnamon stick and all the bay leaves, star anise and any of the list cloves you can find.

Notes

The onion trick is to prevent cloves getting lost in the cabbage and your guests from biting on them. 

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 1179mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 2700IU | Vitamin C: 182mg | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 3mg

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Disclaimer

I’m a Medical Medium® follower and a home cook. I’m not affiliated with Medical Medium® and I’m not a doctor or a Medical Medium® practitioner – I simply enjoy creating colorful recipes that spread joy and inspire you to make the most of your meals, even with all the restrictions our diet may have.

If you notice anything incorrect or missing, please leave a comment below this post or send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram.