Slow Braised Cabbage – cooked low and slow in the oven until meltingly tender, topped with Gremolata. Vegan and Gluten-free, this Tuscan-inspired side dish takes 1 ½ hours of baking time.
Here’s how to take a humble head of cabbage and transform it into something swoon worthy. Wedges of cabbage are pan-seared until golden before being nestled into a flavorful red wine-infused broth-then into the oven it goes for a low and slow braise.
When it comes out, it is meltingly tender and oh so tasty. To finish, spoon a little Gremolata (zesty Italian herb sauce) overtop for a bright burst of flavor.
Make this slow braised cabbage on a lazy Sunday when time is abundant. It’s easy to put together but takes a good 1 ½ hours of baking time.
I guess technically this is a side dish, but somehow it feels robust and hearty, almost like a roast.
Serve it up with creamy polenta, or mashed potatoes, or even mashed cauliflower. Or skip the starch altogether and serve it with a lean protein.
It’s starts with a head of cabbage. I prefer using dark purple cabbage for this recipe, but green cabbage will work too. If using a green cabbage, just make sure to use white wine, instead of red.
Cut the cabbage in half, and cut out the core.
Cut into fourths and then into eighths.
Heat olive oil in an extra large oven proof skillet or braiser. Season the oil with salt and pepper.
Working in batches, pan-sear the cabbage and set aside.
In the same pan add the shallots and garlic. 
Sauté shallots and garlic, then add red wine, broth and herbs.
Then nestle the pan-seared cabbage wedges into the braising liquid. Bring to a simmer, cover and place in a 350F oven.
While it is braising, make flavorful the Gremolata to spoon over top.
After 1 ½ hours the cabbage will be deliciously tender.
I hope you enjoy this Red Wine Braised Cabbage as much as we have! Such a cozy Sunday recipe.
Happy Weekend,
RELATED: 20 VEGETARIAN SIDE DISHES, Warm Red Cabbage Slaw
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Slow Braised Cabbage
- Prep Time: 35
- Cook Time: 90
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Side, vegan side,
- Method: Braised
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Slow Braised Cabbage – slow cooked in the oven until meltingly tender, topped with Gremolata. Vegan and Gluten-free. Allow 1 ½ hours baking time.
Ingredients
- one large round cabbage- purple or red
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh pepper
- pinch chili flakes
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 4–8 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 1 cup veggie or chicken stock
- 1/2 cup wine ( red for purple cabbage, white for green cabbage)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme ( or 1 tablespoon fresh) or sub Herbs de Provence or Italian herbs
- 1 tablespoon vinegar – apple cider or sherry vinegar
Garnish: Gremolata – Zesty Italian Herb Sauce
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F
Cut cabbage in half, core, then cut into quarters, then eights-so you have 8 equal sized wedges.
Heat oil in an extra large, wide oven-proof skillet or (you’ll need a lid). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper to the oil. Ad a pinch of chili flakes, and swirl over medium high heat. Sear the wedges of cabbage in batches, setting to the side on a plate, when lightly browned.
Turn heat to medium. Add the shallots and garlic to the empty pan and give a stir, and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and wine and 1/4 teaspoon salt, bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Add bay leaves, & thyme.
Turn heat off and arrange cabbage, overlapping in a circle. Drizzle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon vinegar. Bring to a simmer, cover tightly and place in the oven for 1 ½ hours.
Mak the Gremolata, set aside.
Check cabbage with a fork, they should be meltingly tender.
Spoon Gremolata over top.
Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: With out gremolata
- Calories: 114
- Sugar: 5.9 g
- Sodium: 544 mg
- Fat: 7.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.5 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This recipe was so easy and and will turn a cabbage hater to a lover. Beautiful flavor and tenderness! Mixed the leftovers with other roasted veg and the sauces were a delicious combo too!
AND the Gremolata 🙌
So glad you enjoyed it!
Just made this for lunch. I knew, immediately, this wasn’t going to look like yours…so I just browned and threw everything else in on top and went with it! The dish came out tasting fine, a bit bland…and I put over Indian lentils…which sounds awful, but was really pretty good. And I used crème fraisch with cilantro, lime and cumin for topping. The dish was pretty good, but looked a little scary, per my husband. If I were to do over, I liked the braising part but would go with something more curry like. Sorry I massacred your recipe, I didn’t intend that…it just sort of took on a life of its own. Hope you get a chuckle out of this ramble.
Do you think you could make this in a slow cooker?? I am browsing and looking for Thanksgiving side dishes to bring and oven space is limited…but this does look yummy and different than what others are bringing.
Hey Jennifer, I think that would be really good- haven’t tried it though, but love the idea of it. 🙂
Loved this …. had with roast lamb and mash…. delish!
Awesome, sounds perfect!
Hi,
I’m planning to make this as a side for Christmas Eve dinner. However, I am also roasting my protein in the oven low and slow, but at 225F. Do you think this recipe would work at 225 instead of 350, adjusting the cooking time? If so, how long do you anticipate it would take to cook?
Thank you in advance!
I bet it would work fine, but not sure on timing Ashley.
Simply excellent!
I loved the melting texture and the gremolata made it taste so fresh and piquant. Lovely comfort food, thank you.
I loved this dish. I used Italian seasonings and thyme. I loved how the braised shallots and garlic became a delicious gravy. You know how to turn a simple vegetable into a succulent dish. Thanks for your wonderful recipes. Also I made the gremolata and blended it very briefly and it turned out very creamy with specks of parsley.
I made this recipe to use up extra red cabbage. I loved the taste and melting tender texture of the cabbage. Definitely a keeper.
Hi,
I’m so excited to make this recipe! I was wondering how it keeps if I were to eat it the next day?
It keeps really well up to 3-4 days after cooking!
Amazing recipe, my wife and I loved it! Do you think that it can be adapted for the slow cooker like ninja foodie?
I think that would work great in a slow cooker. Not sure of timing though.
This recipe caught my attention coz it looks so beautiful and really simple. I made it to share with my sister eats plant based diet… We’re both hooked. You’re a champion, thank you, thank you.
You are nice. Thanks Jane.
Wow! This was amazing! I was not able to keep my cabbage as pretty and tucked together, it kept loosening, but super yummy.
Glad you enjoyed.
This braised cabbage is so delicious. I’ve made it twice now with rave reviews. I’ve used red cabbage as it’s very pretty and a great addition to a vegetarian meal.
Awesome, thanks, great to hear! 🙌
Amazing depth of flavour.
A go-to recipe of ours now that we now how tasty and easy this is!
Your enthusiasm is contagious, Sylvia, that encourage me to carry on cooking a mouthmelting dish of red cabbage to be my favorite just immediately. However one question is left as far as the substitution of a red wine for Aceto Balsamico Di Modena is
concerned.Does it work or better Spanish Sherry Jerez, both I have at my disposal.
I like the idea of sherry!
Simple ingredients with an impressive taste! I love cooking with Herbs de Provence. Leftovers made for great lunches. Definitely will make this again. Thanks for sharing. Sissy
Thanks so much Sissy!
Outstanding recipe!! Even my 16 year old daughter ate it and my wife loved the Gremolata thinking of other dishes we could use it on. We eat a lot of cabbage but this was such a special treat to braise it, so succulent and melts in your mouth. This ones a keeper and will definitely make it again. Thanks for sharing!!
Delicious!! The only thing I altered was in the Gremolata. My husband is allergic to citrus so I used verjus as a lemon/tart substitute. The cabbage melts in your mouth. It is well worth the time it takes to braise it.
I made this during the week, ate it for a few days and I’m already craving more! It was beyond delicious!
I am craving it too!!!
Fabulous, didn’t change a thing. The house smelled so good!
Great to hear~! I like this one too!
5 star. Loved it. So deep and rich and vegetarian compliant. Who could ask for more!
Simply delicious. Was devoured by my young family. Planning to make again this week.
I wonder if the oven part can be achieved in the instapot?
Such a great question! I love the idea of using the instant pot. Will have to test. My guess is 25 mins on high pressure? If you try it, let me know…
I cook only for one…myself. Pls advise in the notes, on every recipe you post, how the recipe will keep. Freezer? Two days in the fridge? Best if eaten same day? Work in an instant pot? And before I buy all the ingredients for this, I need the answer.
I don’t know about freezing, but mine lasted 3-4 days in the fridge.