Savory Braised Cabbage (Printable)

Tender cabbage braised with smoked paprika, thyme and apple cider vinegar—cozy gluten-free side or light vegetarian main.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium green cabbage (about 2 lbs), cored and thinly sliced
02 - 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and julienned
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

05 - 1 cup vegetable broth
06 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

→ Spices & Seasonings

07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
11 - ½ tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet. Add sliced onion and julienned carrots; sauté for 5 minutes until tender.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent browning.
03 - Add the sliced cabbage to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until it begins to wilt and reduce in volume.
04 - Sprinkle in smoked paprika, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. Toss everything together until the cabbage is evenly coated with spices.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth and apple cider vinegar. Drop in the bay leaf and stir to combine all ingredients.
06 - Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and braise for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is very tender and the flavors have melded together.
07 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms a humble head of cabbage into something velvety and deeply savory with almost no effort.
  • The entire dish comes together in one pot which means cleanup is blessedly simple.
  • It reheats beautifully the next day and honestly might taste even better then.
02 -
  • Do not rush the braising time because the magic happens in those slow 30 minutes when everything softens and melds together.
  • If your cabbage is very fresh and watery you may need slightly less broth so start with three quarters of a cup and add more only if needed.
03 -
  • The cabbage reduces dramatically so what looks like an overflowing pot will settle into a manageable amount within ten minutes.
  • If you want a deeper caramelized flavor let the cabbage cook uncovered for the last five minutes to let excess liquid cook off and the edges catch a little color.

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