Mary Berry’s Christmas simmered red cabbage and cider

Red cabbage is a hearty vegetable and perfect to serve in winter as a delicious accompaniment to Christmas lunch. This Christmas red cabbage recipe from Mary Berry is slow cooked in cider for an extravagant treat.

Mary Berry's simmered red cabbage with cider
Image credit: Mary Berry
By Mary Berry | Published - 4 Dec 2024

Preparation time 3-4 hours

Serves 6

  • Ingredients
  • Method
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 knobs of butter
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1kg (2lb 3oz) red cabbage, finely shredded
  • 250ml (10fl oz) cider
  • 4 tbsp redcurrant jelly
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC/140ºC fan/Gas 3.
  2. Heat the oil and a knob of butter in a deep ovenproof saucepan. Add the onion and cabbage and fry for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add the cider and redcurrant jelly, season, bring to the boil and boil for a few minutes.
  4. Cover the pan with a lid and place in the oven for 3-4 hours until completely tender.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cabbage to a warm dish, leaving the juices behind in the pan.
  6. Place the pan on the hob and reduce the liquid until the colour has darkened and reduced to a syrupy consistency.
  7. Stir in the remaining butter, remove from the heat and pour over the cabbage.

Prepare ahead

You can make this Christmas cabbage recipe up to 12 hours in advance. To reheat, cover with foil and bake in the oven.

Recipes extracted from Mary Berry Simple Comforts by Mary Berry (BBC Books, RRP £26)

Check Price

Related articles
Carrot cake on a plate about to be eaten
The best Carrot cake to buy: tried and tasted
a bowl containing black limes on a white tablecloth
Love Middle Eastern food? Why you should be cooking with black limes
A selection of wines mentioned in the below article.
The best wine matches for your favourite films
Bread, cheese and wine on a wooden board
Love food and wine?

Find out about Saga's gastronomy holidays here...

They say the way to the heart is through the stomach, and Saga’s thoughtfully crafted food and wine holidays are perfect if you like trying new flavours and exploring traditional methods of cooking.

Find out more
Vintage by Saga
Saga Vintage
Experience deserves exceptional wine

Enjoy the convenience of premium wines delivered direct to your door - Join our wine club today and save £84 on your first case

Find out more

Related articles

Mary Berry's classic fruit scones
Mary Berry's fruit scones
Mary Berry's recipe for fruit scones, plus her tips for making the best scones.
A large number of pumpkins
Autumnal pumpkin recipes for your air fryer

Never airfried pumpkin before? Our guide to making tasty pumpkin dishes in an air fryer shows you how.

A boiled egg with the top removed and a runny yolk, with a small piece of bread dipped in
How to cook a perfect boiled egg - From the ultimate egg to an air fryer hack

The best ways to boil an egg, which may surprise you, and the egg-boiling mistakes to avoid.

a plate of chicken kiev with risotto on a wooden table
Aldo Zilli's healthy chicken Kiev with saffron rice

Italian chef, Aldo Zilli's heart-healthy chicken kiev recipe that tastes incredible

Mary Berry's potato, leek and cheese pie
Mary Berry’s potato, leek and cheese pie
A creamy potato, cheese and leek pie filling in flaky pastry from Mary Berry.
Prawns on a bed of beans in a skillet
James Martin: The Spain attraction

Celebrity chef James Martin shares his recipes for Valencian Beans and Prawns and Creme Caramel with Spiced Seville Oranges.

Potatoes cooked in air fryers
Air fryer potatoes: Expert tips for making the tastiest potatoes
Roast, baked and even mash – yes, the air fryer is a master of the potato game. Here’s how to make perfect air fryer potatoes every time.
A delicious chicken kyiv | Getty Images
The best chicken Kyiv we've tried and tasted
Chicken Kiev has been popular for more than a century, but which supermarket Kyiv is best?
Close-up of a barista pouring frothed milk into a coffee mug in front of a large coffee machine
The secrets of cafe-quality coffee (and it’s not just about the machine)
We quizzed the experts on why a barista brew always tastes so good – and got some insider tips on how to recreate it at home.