Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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This sweet and sour green cabbage recipe is one of the easiest, tastiest side dishes you can make! It’s flavorful, tender, and inexpensive – and goes great with any protein!

Ready in 30 minutes, this cabbage is a crowd-pleasing favorite. We love serving this sweet & sour cabbage recipe alongside Bohemian dumplings and crispy protein.

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (1)

Whenever I see cabbage on sale, I always grab a head or two so I can make one of my favorite sides: this delicious sweet & sour green cabbage recipe! It reminds me of the really great Bohemian style sweet & sour cabbage you can get a good Czech restaurants, and it tastes just as good!

Sweet & sour cabbage is a staple in Bohemian cooking. I grew up eating it at restaurants, and recently was able to take a trip to one of my favorite Bohemian restaurants in Chicago, The Westchester Inn, for the real deal. It’s a cozy bowl of old world flavors.

This Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe Is

  • Bright
  • Flavorful
  • Tart
  • Savory
  • Easy to Make
  • Ready in 30 Minutes
  • A Great Vegetarian Side Dish
Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (2)

A Tasty Cabbage Side Dish Everyone Will Love

This sweet and sour green cabbage is one of my favorite sides – it’s a crowd-pleaser dish that is always a major hit on our table. These delicious recipes are the perfect accompaniment to serve with protein or bread dumplings.

Browse all our side dish recipes to find your next family favorite! And the best part about this cabbage is that there is very little prep, and the cabbage cooks itself so you can prep other parts of dinner while it cooks.

What’s In This Bohemian Style Cabbage Recipe?

I get fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out favorite produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box here!

  • Green Cabbage – I like using a medium head of cabbage for this recipe, about 2lbs. Remove the outer leaves before you start chopping for the best texture.
  • Butter – I always use unsalted butter to reduce the amount of sodium in my cooking.
  • Caraway Seeds– optional if you like the flavor, I put them in mine!
  • White Vinegar – tart, inexpensive, and gives this cabbage a fantastic flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: I like this organic sugar for my recipes, I recommend it for cooking and baking.
  • Salt & Pepper
Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (3)

How Do I Make Sweet and Sour Cabbage with Green Cabbage?

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the sliced onion and lightly brown for 4 to 5 minutes.

  2. Add in the caraway seeds (if using) and sauté for an additional minute.

  3. Pour in the water, white vinegar, and sugar and stir well to combine. Add the shredded cabbage and black pepper to the pot, and stir well to combine. Cover and simmer cabbage for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  4. Add the fresh lemon to the sauerkraut, and it give it a final stir. Taste, and adjust vinegar or sugar level as needing, adding more to taste. Serve hot, and garnish with extra caraway seeds. Enjoy!

European Inspired Comfort Food Any Time of Year

This Czech inspired cabbage recipe is the tastiest, coziest dinner side. It’s perfect for a hearty meal for the family, and also great to make for company if you are having guests for dinner.

It makes a great holiday meal as well – and would be a great addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas. The cabbage simmering on the stove most of the work, so you can enjoy hands-off time while you prep sides or a salad!

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (4)

More Tasty Vegetable Side Dishes You’ll Love

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Air Fryer

Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe

Chickpea and Kidney Bean Salad

Quick Pickled Carrots and Jalapenos Recipe

La Scala Chopped Salad

As always, if you make this easy sweet and sour green cabbage recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipes!

Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my monthly newsletter to get free recipe inspiration.

And follow over on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok – I’d love to connect with you there!

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (5)

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (6)Kelly Jensen

This sweet and sour green cabbage recipe is one of the easiest, tastiest side dishes you can make! It’s flavorful, tender, and inexpensive – and goes great with any protein!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Bohemian

Servings 8 servings

Calories 94 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head green cabbage finely shredded, about 2 lbs
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 3/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat the butter over low heat until melted.

  • Add in the caraway seeds (if using) and sauté for an additional minute.

  • Pour in the water, white vinegar, and sugar and stir well to combine. Add the shredded cabbage and black pepper to the pot, and stir well to combine. Cover and simmer cabbage for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Add the fresh lemon to the sauerkraut, and it give it a final stir. Taste, and adjust vinegar or sugar level as needing, adding more to taste. Serve hot, and garnish with extra caraway seeds. Enjoy!

Notes

Save on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples

I love shopping for fresh produce through Misfits Market” data-eafl-id=”29336″ data-eafl-parsed=”1″ class=”eafl-link eafl-link-text eafl-link-direct” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Misfits Market. They sell fresh produce, pantry staples, and fantastic groceries (even wine!) at a discounted price. Choose your favorite seasonal produce, enjoy delivery right to your door, & $10 off your first box by clicking here.

Getting groceries online has turned out to be a huge time and money saver for us. If you haven’t tried a produce box yet, I highly recommend trying one out!

Nutrition

Calories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 169mgPotassium: 197mgFiber: 3gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 156IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg

Keyword bohemian cabbage recipe, green cabbage recipes, green cabbage side dishes, sweet cabbage, swet and sour green cabbage recipe

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Or tag me @theherbeevore in your photo on Instagram!

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About the Author: Kelly Jensen

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (7)

Kelly Jensen has 7 years experience as a food blogger, freelance recipe developer, content creator, beekeeper, and loves cooking everything she can from scratch.

View all post by Kelly Jensen | Website

Sweet and Sour Green Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put vinegar in cabbage when boiling it? ›

Red cabbages can be stored in a cool, dark place for a week to ten days. Before cooking, remove any tired or discoloured leaves and always cook red cabbage with a little vinegar. This preserves the beautiful purple colour – without it, the cabbage will turn blue!

How to make hot and sour cabbage? ›

Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chiles, garlic, and ginger, and stir-fry 1 minute. Add cabbage, and cook 30 seconds. Stir in vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until cabbage is crisp-tender.

What are 3 ways you can eat cabbage? ›

Stir-fry: Thinly slice cabbage and stir-fry it with your choice of vegetables and protein. Soup: Add cabbage to soups, stews, and broths for added flavor and nutrition. Salad: Cabbage can be thinly sliced and added to salads as a crisp and refreshing ingredient.

Does cabbage get sweeter when cooked? ›

Served raw, it's crunchy and slightly rubbery, with a lightly peppery, mild taste. We find it's best to shred cabbage into thin ribbons when enjoying raw, although it can also be chopped into small chunks for salads. When cooked, its texture softens and the flavor becomes sweet and caramelized.

What happens if you boil cabbage too long? ›

Shredded cabbage will be done in around 5 minutes; for wedges, it'll be done around 10. You want to cook until tender, but err on the side of caution—overcooked cabbage will turn limp and give off a less-than-pleasant smell. Tip: Make sure to drain your cabbage to prevent overcooking!

How long can you keep cabbage in vinegar? ›

This quick-pickled cabbage recipe is not fermented, but it is simply brined in a hot vinegar-salt mixture and refrigerated. The pickled cabbage lasts only a week in the fridge, while sauerkraut is good for up to six months.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

How long does it take for cabbage to soften in boiling water? ›

How to boil cabbage. Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender.

Do you boil cabbage in hot or cold water? ›

Boil cabbage by cleaning and preparing it, then cooking it in hot water for just a few minutes.

What does cabbage do for the human body? ›

Cabbage has 1 gram of fiber for every 10 calories. That helps fill you up, so you eat less. It also keeps you regular, and it could help lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and control your blood sugar. Cabbage also has nutrients that keep the lining of your stomach and intestines strong.

Is cabbage healthier for you than lettuce? ›

Which should you choose? If you're looking for the healthier option of the two, choose cabbage. Lettuce varieties such as red leaf lettuce and romaine are also good options. Cabbage, including green and red cabbage, is typically higher in vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds than iceberg lettuce.

Can dogs eat cabbage? ›

Along with other cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, cabbage is fine to snack on with your dog. Just be sure to start slow and limit their intake, since the high fiber and water content can cause an upset stomach if your pup has too much.

What makes cabbage taste sweet? ›

This is because as the temperatures drop, the cold causes the plants to break down the energy and convert it into sugar, leading to a sweeter, tastier flavor. There are different types of cabbage; light green, dark green, red and purple are the most common. They are all versatile in the way you can prepare them.

Why does my cabbage taste sour? ›

Overcooking cabbage releases sulfur compounds that can give it a bitter taste. Another possible reason is that the cabbage was not fresh. Old or spoiled cabbage can also taste bitter. Finally, the variety of cabbage used can also play a role in its taste.

Why do people add sugar to cabbage? ›

Sugar: Plain ol' granulated sugar, the amount also to taste. It brings out the subtle, natural sweetness of Southern Fried Cabbage. Balsamic vinegar: Apple cider vinegar works just fine, too, but I like the flavor balsamic adds, and it's a tad sweeter so I don't add as much sugar.

Will adding vinegar to cabbage during cooking make it turn blue? ›

If you add vinegar it will stay the original color. The reddish pigment in the cabbage acts as a pH indicator like litmus paper. Your method of cooking is alkaline which isn't bad but would change the color of cabbage.

Why do people boil vinegar? ›

Some cleaning enthusiasts recommend boiling a pan of vinegar to help get rid of strong odours by turning the acetic acid into a vapour that might more readily react with any volatile bases in a room.

What happens when you mix vinegar and cabbage juice? ›

The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

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