This easy Pickled Red Cabbage recipe is a great way to use leftover cabbage and make a versatile condiment!
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Red cabbage is one of those ingredients that always seems to go to waste. I am often guilty of buying a head of this veggie, using a quarter of it, and then forgetting about the rest.
A week later, I usually stumble upon the leftover cabbage in one of the drawers in my fridge. Face palm! This exact scenario has happened to me many times, especially when I’m making my favorite Beet and Cabbage Slaw!
But I’m determined to put an end to my wasteful red cabbage habit! Lately, Will and I have been making a lot of efforts to reduce our food waste, and lucky for us, I recently discovered that red cabbage is incredibly easy to pickle. That’s because the thin, stringy pieces are perfect for soaking up brine.
And keeping pickled veggies in the fridge is pretty amazing. They can add flavor and nutrition to a variety of dishes, and help you increase your daily veggie intake in the process!
How to Make Pickled Red Cabbage
First, prep the cabbage! While making this recipe, I discovered that the best way to shred cabbage is with a mandoline. But you can also use a sharp knife to thinly slice cabbage.
Next, make your brine by combining:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Sugar
- Salt
- Garlic
- Bay leaves
Fill two 16 oz mason jars (or one 32 oz jar) with shredded cabbage and then pour in the brine (divide it evenly among the jars). You may not fill the jars all the way to the top, and that’s OK! Seal the jars and let them sit at room temp for a few hours before transferring to the fridge.
How long does it last?
Pickled red cabbage can keep for two weeks in the fridge.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas
You can certainly play around with your favorite spice combos for this recipe. Some readers have commented that they added red pepper flakes to make the final product spicier. Yum! PS – you can also use green cabbage if you don’t have red cabbage on hand, and you can sub red wine vinegar for apple cider!
Ways to Eat Pickled Red Cabbage
There are TONS of ways to enjoy pickled cabbage, including:
- as a side to scrambled or fried eggs
- on top of tacos, BBQ sandwiches, burgers, or fish
- as part of a charcuterie board or vegetable platter
- or just straight out of the jar with a fork!
If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments below. Or tag me on Instagram @its_a_vegworld_afterall!
For other condiments with vegetables, check out:
📖 Recipe
Pickled Red Cabbage
Ingredients
- ½ head red cabbage - ~5-6 cups shredded
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 cloves garlic - smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Remove the core of the cabbage and slice it into quarters. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, slice the cabbage into thin pieces. Divide cabbage pieces evenly into two large glass jars (I used 16 oz mason jars).
- In a small bowl, whisk together the water, vinegar, and sugar. Use the side of a large chef's knife to smash the garlic cloves. Add smashed garlic cloves, bay leaves, and sea salt to the brine.
- Pour half of the brine into each jar so that they have equal amounts of liquid, garlic cloves, and bay leaves. The brine will not cover the cabbage pieces entirely, and may only come up to the middle of the jar. Seal the jars tightly and leave them at room temperature for 3.5 to 4 hours.
- After 3.5 to 4 hours, transfer the jars to fridge. Enjoy the final product once it has cooled. It can usually last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Pickled Red Cabbage now to make later!
Aren’t those colors just gorgeous!!???
-Lizzie
Erica
This recipe is confusing. It says “Enjoy the final product once it has cooled” but nothing in it is cooked or heated. The brine is not boiled, so… it won’t be hot. I can’t figure out why a recipe with no cooking would say to leave the jars on the counter for hours before putting them in the fridge.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
The jars are left at room temperature so that the pickling process occurs. The cabbage will start to get tender and shrink down in the jar, leading the brine to cover all of it by the end of the few hours at room temperature. The direction to enjoy the final product once it has cooled is referring to eating the cabbage after it cools in the refrigerator.
Nadine
I had half a red cabbage leftover from a batch of braised red cabbage I had made so tried to find a simple use for it. I came across this pickled red cabbage recipe and it was so easy to make and super tasty! I will definitely make it again!
Brenda
You don’t boil the vinegar/water?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Brenda, since this recipe is not for canned/shelf-stable veggies, I don’t boil the vinegar/water unless I want to heat it up a little bit to help dissolve the salt and sugar.
Nadine
I had half a red cabbage leftover from a batch of braised cabbage I had made so tried to find a simple use for it. I came across this pickled red cabbage recipe and it was so easy to make and super tasty! I will definitely make it again!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Nadine, awesome! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and found it easy to make. Thanks for letting me know!
Cass
I just made 3 batches, one with chilli oil and one with miso and chilli oil and one plain. So excited to taste!!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Yum! Sounds like you made some delicious additions. Hope you enjoy!
Jenifer
Can you process jars of the picketed cabbage and can them to save for longer?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
I have not personally tried processing the jars of this recipe for canning, so I can’t say for sure. If you try it, I recommend following all of the proper protocols for safe canning.
JayJ
Thanks for the recipe!
It worries me that the brine is not covering all of the cabbage. Not a problem with mold?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Jay, good question. As you let the cabbage sit with the brine, you’ll see that it will shrink down and then be covered by the brine by the time you put it in the fridge. Let me know if this doesn’t happen for you. Thank you!
Caroline Peregrine
Can I make this in pint jars.?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Caroline, yep! That should work just fine.
DJ
I cannot have sugar in my diet. Will this recipe work with a sugar substitute?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi DJ, I believe a reader has tried this recipe with erythritol sweetener in the past and it worked for her. I have not personally tried it with sugar substitutes, but I suspect it would work fine. Let me know how it goes!
Annette
Thanks Lizzie
Annette
looks great! can the sugar be substituted with erythritol sweetener and are the brine ingredients used cold or meant to be heated first?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Yes, I think that substitute will work just fine for the sugar. The brine ingredients are used cold. Hope you enjoy it!!
Gloria
Great recipe! I ended up making two batches one batch I added a tablespoon of red pepper flakes for some extra kick.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
That’s great to hear! And adding red pepper flakes sounds delicious. Thanks for rating the recipe and letting me know!
Sita
I had a tiny bit of red cabbage left so I 1/4 the recipe. Put all ingredients in mason jar and shook it up. Can’t wait to try it.
Lizzie
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it. It’s such a great way to use up leftover red cabbage :-).
Karen Miraglia
Looks good. Waiting for that slaw recipe….