Festive Red Cabbage Food

FESTIVE RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish, add the onions and cook on a medium heat for 8-10 mins, then add the star anise and cinnamon stick.
• Pour in the wine and let it simmer until slightly reduced. Add the cabbage, sugar and apples, and stir well. Season well, cover and simmer on a low heat for 3 hrs, stirring every now and again.
• Once the cabbage is tender, check the seasoning. Serve in a bowl with the star anise and cinnamon stick on top. Can be made 1-2 days in advance or frozen for up to 4 months - simply reheat on the hob before serving.

RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a large lidded saucepan. When hot, add the onion and fry gently until softened. Stir in the spices. Add the cabbage and fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until glossy.
• Stir in the sugar, apples and red wine vinegar. Cover with a lid and let it cook gently for 30 minutes.
• Stir in the redcurrant or cranberry sauce (if using) and cook for a further 10 minutes. If you aren't using the sauce, taste the cabbage and add a little more sugar if it's too tart for your taste.

THE BEST RED CABBAGE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine sugar, onion, and celery salt in a large bowl. Let sit for 1 hour.
• Add cabbage to the marinade and stir to combine. Pour in vinegar and oil and mix well. Season with black pepper; top with blue cheese and almonds.

DAZZLING WINTER SLAW - RED CABBAGE, APPLE AND PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together in a jar - giving them all a good shake. The dressing can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in a cool place.
• Place all the prepared vegetables and the apple in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand.
• One hour before serving add the dressing and mix well, allowing the flavours to infuse together.
• Serve in an attractive serving bowl, sprinkling on the pecan nuts just before serving; give them a little mix, leaving some on top.
• This coleslaw can also be garnished with finely chopped parsley, for extra colour.

CROCK POT BAKED SPICED RED CABBAGE WITH APPLES OR PEARS

Steps:

• Discard outer leaves of the red cabbage and ut into quarters. Cut out the central woody root and then shred the quarters very finely. Place in a bowl. Cut the apples or pears into quarters, core them & then slice into fine dice and set aside in another bowl.
• Place peeled and diced onions into another bowl & make sure all the other ingredients are measured and to hand!
• If cooking in a conventional dutch oven or Le Creuset type casserole dish, turn oven on to 180 C or 360°F It can be cooked on top of the stove too.
• For cooking in the crockpot - take the inner crock out and start layering the ingredients: Red cabbage, then salt & pepper; Apples or pears, onions & garlic, then the spices & brown sugar;keep layering this way until everything has been used up.
• (If you would like it slghtly spicier, add a little more spices, but no more than 1 teaspoon per spice, as it will be too spiced & will detract from the apple/pear & red cabbage flavours!).
• Dot the top of the red cabbage with the butter and pour over the red wine vinegar.
• Season once more with salt & pepper and cook for 6 to 12 hours on High in the crockpot, until everything has broken down, is soft and it is a rich red colour.
• For conventional cooking - cook for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours at 180 C or 360°F I.
• It can be cooked on the stove top too; takes about 2 - 3 hours on a low heat, just a slow simmer.
• Pears can be used as well, and I sometimes add a handful of cranberries for a really festive touch!