Best German Braised Cabbage Recipe – Oma’s Bavarian Weisskraut * (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between rotkohl and Blaukraut? ›

In Northern Germany, where I'm from, red cabbage is called Rotkohl. In Central and Western Germany it is called Rotkraut. And in Southern Germany it is called Blaukohl or Blaukraut, which translate to blue cabbage.

cabbage {noun}

Trottel {m} [coll.]

Red cabbage with apples is a traditional German side dish for pork roast and other roasts, Christmas goose, turkey, and game. It tastes even better when reheated so I usually make it the day before. It is a staple on most people's home for Christmas dinner.

Sauerkraut (/ˈsaʊ. ərˌkraʊt/; German: [ˈzaʊ. ɐˌkʁaʊt], lit. 'sour cabbage') is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria.

red cabbage. Synonym. Rotkohl. (Translation of Blaukraut from the GLOBAL German–English Dictionary © 2018 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Napa Cabbage

Its flavor is a little sweeter than green and red cabbage, and the leaves are far more tender, so it's a great choice if you're looking for something more mild. It's a classic addition when filling dumplings or making stir-fries, and it's also great raw in salads and slaws.

Cabbages of all types and colors feature in so many traditional German dishes! Everything from a northern German dish of dark green cabbage and sausage to a hearty Bavarian kohlrabi and white cabbage soup, from blaukraut (a braised red cabbage side dish) to pork chops with sauerkraut, a complete meal in a pan.

China produces nearly half of the world's cabbage while Russia consumes the most per person. The average Russian eats about 44 pounds of cabbage a year. That compares to the 8.6 pounds eaten by Americans. Raw cabbage is rich in vitamin C.

Sauerkraut is the German language equivalent of “sour cabbage.” In reality though, it can mean different things to different people. To busy home chefs, sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is a fast, easy way to liven up their families' favorite meals.

In many parts of Eastern Europe, eating cabbage rolls for New Year's is considered very lucky. Laura Kelley, author of The Silk Road Gourmet (iUniverse, 2009), says: “My mother said that cabbage rolls were considered lucky because the leaves looked like paper money.

Is German cabbage good for you? ›

In addition to vitamin K, a serving of cabbage supplies up to 1/3 of your daily allowance of vitamin C. This powerful antioxidant eliminates free radicals and boosts the immune system. So cabbage—especially red cabbage—is loaded with nutrition. This recipe gives you a delicious, traditional German way to prepare it.

Radicchio ⁠— also known as Cichorium intybus and Italian chicory ⁠— is a type of leafy chicory featuring dark reddish-purple leaves and white veins. Though commonly mistaken for red cabbage or lettuce, radicchio has a distinctly bitter taste that goes well with many Italian dishes.

As far as vegetables go, green beans, broccoli, peas and cabbage are staples at the German dinner table. Vegetables are often boiled, stir fried or come from the oven, to keep them slightly chewy.

Generations ago, the Germans likely felt better after eating their beloved fermented cabbage and recognized sauerkraut's digestive and immune-boosting properties.

Depending on your taste, onions, bacon, juniper berries, caraway, and/or cream can be added to and cooked with the Sauerkraut. In many parts of Germany, pork ribs or pork cutlets are cooked in the Sauerkraut to give it a smokey flavor. The pork absorbs the liquid and becomes very soft and juicy.

For those who find sauerkraut a little too strong or sour (Heh… accidentally typed 'sauer'), rotkohl is a sweeter, less pungent alternative. Basically a sweet-and-sour braised red cabbage, rotkohl (pronounced “rote-coal”) can be made one of two ways.

German red cabbage recipes, aka Rotkohl, Rotkraut, and Blaukraut, are among those best vegetable recipes that Germans love! That sweet and sour flavor - it's almost like eating candy! Red cabbage is a great side dish that goes so well with dishes like rouladen (or flatladen in my family) and meatloaf.

So, while red cabbage may taste sweeter due to the presence of anthocyanins, white or green cabbage has a stronger bitter taste due to higher levels of glucosinolates. The taste difference between these types of cabbage can also be influenced by factors such as growing conditions, variety, and cooking methods.

Though Napa cabbage grows a sizable, tightly-formed head like the European cabbages, its shared lineage with mustard and Asian greens means it has a slight peppery flavor and a more juicy, crunchy texture. It's particularly great when lightly cooked in stir-fries, or made into traditional kimchi.