What is it?

Red cabbage, which leans more to a purply-pink than actual red, is a gorgeous sister of green (or white) cabbage. It has a slightly more peppery flavor. Pretty and tasty in slaws, it also stars in braises.

Kitchen math:

1 head = about 1 1/2 lb.

Don’t have it?

Green cabbage

How to choose:

Choose heads that are heavy and firm. Avoid any with a dried or cracked stem, which indicates an old cabbage that?s liable to be bitter.

How to prep:

Remove any wilted outer leaves before slicing or shredding. Remove the tough inner core as well. The coloring that makes red cabbage so pretty (and looks great in salads and slaws) fades with cooking to a drab gray. But cooking red cabbage in an acidic liquid such as wine or vinegar does help the vegetable retain its color.

How to store:

Store red cabbage whole in the refrigerator where is can keep well for at least 2 weeks.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Taco Slaw

  Whenever I make fajitas or tacos, I find I want a fresh, simple, crunchy way to finish them. This is what I landed on: shredded cabbage and carrot, plus scallions, cilantro…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Cabbage Salad with Basil, Cilantro, and Cashews

  Fresh, colorful, and a little crunchy from the cabbage and cashews, this cool salad is perfect on a hot summer night.

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  Recipe

  Slow-Cooker Lamb Shawarma

  Though true shawarma is made with shaved meat cooked slowly on a spit, meat cooked in a slow cooker produces a similarly tender texture, and its full, fragrant flavor will…

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  Recipe

  Sausage with Red Cabbage and Apples

  Fully cooked sausages are a great choice for speedy weeknight dinners. Pair them with red cabbage braised in beer plus vinegar, cloves, and red currant jelly for your own mini…

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  Recipe

  Five-Spice Red Cabbage Salad

  An intriguing combination of flavors and textures in this slightly sweet salad makes it hard to stop eating. Serve it with a mild white fish.

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  Recipe

  Duck-Pistachio Lettuce Wraps

  This colorful wrap features crunchy pistachios and cabbage, plus luscious duck confit and quick-pickled chiles. The thinly sliced chiles sit in a combination of white vinegar and sugar. You can…

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  Recipe

  Cabbage and Apple Slaw

  This quick slaw retains the cabbage's crunch, while apples lend a touch of sweetness. Try it with Smoky Pork Burgers with Grilled Sweet Onion.

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  Recipe

  Cabbage-Carrot Slaw with Cranberries, Mint, and Honey

  Cabbage and carrots may be typical slaw ingredients, yet this slaw is anything but. Taking a cue from Moroccan cuisine, it has sweetness and heat balanced by a sprinkling of…

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  Recipe

  Sweet & Sour Spiced Cabbage

  Braising cabbage with butter, apple juice, red currant jelly, and spices gives it amazingly rich flavor (the dish is an essential part of a traditional Scandinavian holiday meal). Leftovers are…