This is not your typical braised cabbage recipe. Instead of relying on apples, distinctive vinegars, or bacon, this French version uses butter, white wine, Dijon mustard and a touch of cream. And adding the cabbage in two stages results in layers of texture in the finished dish.
The result is irresistible. My best advice is to double whatever you think you'll need. And it still might not be enough. It's that good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review: "I had a lot of cabbage to use up and wanted to try something new. This was super easy and came out lovely! I really like how putting the cabbage in in two parts gives it more texture, and all the flavors are just perfect." ~JJ
🏃♀️ Post Summary
In a hurry? This summary covers the essential points.
- Meal Prep: 10 minutes. Cook Time: 40 minutes.
- Servings: 4 as a side dish (a double batch is not a bad idea!)
- What you’ll need: A braiser with a lid. A Dutch oven or any large skillet with a lid and sides at least 2" high also works.
- Key Ingredient: Savoy cabbage is best. Napa cooks much faster, and green cabbage needs more time. Skip red cabbage.
- Make ahead and storage: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Want to make this recipe perfectly the first time? I want to help with that. So, check out this Table of Contents to see which sections of this post will help you the most.
Jump to:
⭐️ Cabbage is a Star
Cabbage is super healthy (see below) and there are lots of ways to prepare it for a wide variety of vegetable sides. Raw cabbage is perfect for a crunchy coleslaw or a salad, such as on this tostada or this citrus salad. Or fermented with salt and other spices to make kimchi or sauerkraut.
These easy recipe for roasted cabbage steaks with garlic and simple seasoning is one of my most popular recipes. And if you're looking for ideas for St. Patrick's Day dinners, cabbage is one of the first things we all think about.
But cabbage is also a great vegetable for braising - as you'll se in this recipe. It's one of my favorite recipes.
If you're unfamiliar with the most popular types of cabbage, check out this useful guide on the 5 major different types of cabbage. The article includes tips for how to spot the best cabbage at your market, how to store it for a longer life, and ideas for using the various types.
👩⚕️ Is cabbage good for you?
Yes. We often think of vibrantly colored vegetables as being the most healthy. But even the palest cabbage is packed with lots of nutrients.
- It's loaded with Vitamin C (who knew??), with ½ cup cooked cabbage satisfying about ⅓ of the Vitamin C you need all day. And it provides good fiber, helping you feel fuller longer.
- Cabbage is loaded with antioxidants, and is good for both inflammation and digestion.
- Unsurprisingly, red cabbage gives you the best nutritional boost per serving.
- With 2 grams of net carbs per 1 cup shredded cabbage, it's considered keto friendly.
🫕 What is braising?
Braising is a perfect way to cook tough or firm vegetables, such as collard greens, fennel, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. This cooking method allows the veggies to soften in a braising liquid and melt into a sauce that's full of flavor.
Here are some key vegetable braising rules:
Do not submerge: When braising vegetables, add just enough liquid to come about one-third of the way up the sides of the veggies. But don't ever completely cover them in liquid, as this defines boiling or stewing veggies. (Note the difference in the amount of liquid when braising vegetables compared to braising meat. The latter typically uses enough liquid to come one-half to two-thirds of the way up its sides.)
Leverage the steam: A tight-fitting lid traps steam and moisture, which gently cooks the exposed parts of the veggies until tender without turning everything into soup.
Focus on Dense Vegetables: Sturdy vegetables get the best result when braising as they take longer to get tender, and the longer the cooking process, the more flavor can be built into the dish. Examples are beets, celery root, carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, potatoes, and artichokes. You can braise moisture-rich vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes, but they cook very fast and therefore not have as much flavor when using this cooking method.
👩🍳 What is a braiser?
A braiser is typically a heavy bottomed pan, often made of enameled cast iron for an even heating across its bottom surface at low temperatures. It's broad across its width, has a lid, and usually has handles on either side. The sides are taller than a typical skillet, but not as tall as a Dutch oven. If you don't have a pan fitting this description, use a Dutch oven or any large pan with sides that are at least 2 inches high.
🥬 What kind of cabbage is best for braising?
When braising, the best kinds of cabbage are Savoy, green, and red (purple) cabbage as they are sturdy enough to hold up well to the cooking process.
You can also use Napa cabbage, but it cooks much faster than either green or red cabbage and requires more attention, lower heat, and a shorter cook time to prevent it from becoming mushy.
🔪 Prep Ahead Plan
Life is busy. If you want to make this soup during the week but don't have time or energy to do both the meal prep and finish the soup on the same evening, here's a prep ahead plan to follow. Feel free to pick and choose which items you want to do ahead.
👉 Finely dice the onion and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 7-10 days.
👉 Thinly slice the cabbage and store in the refrigerator in an airtight food container with a clean, dry paper towel. The paper towel will absorb excess moisture and prevent the cabbage from becoming slimy. Store in the coldest section of your refrigerator, such as the back of the fridge or the crisper drawer, for only 2-3 days.
👩🍳 Cooking Tips
- Add the cabbage in separate batches. This way, the braised cabbage has different textures in the end result.
- Only stir the cabbage occasionally! Stirring tends to cool food down, and it's important to maintain a consistent, low temperature for a great braising.
🤷♀️ FAQ
No. Red cabbage is excellent for braising, but is sweeter than other cabbages. This type of cabbage marries better with apple cider vinegar than with cream.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
No. The leaves of both Savoy and Napa cabbage are thinner and frilly, making them too fragile for the food processor.
❤️ More Cabbage Dishes
Below, see more ways to use your next head of cabbage: Garlicky Roasted Cabbage Steaks, Citrus Salad with Cabbage, and Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Coleslaw.
Best Ever French Braised Cabbage Recipe with Savoy
Video
Equipment
- Braiser with a lid See Equipment Notes
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion about ½ of a large onion, see the Recipe Notes
- 6 cups thinly sliced Savoy cabbage, divided, see the Recipe Notes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt see the Recipe Notes
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Better Than Bouillon, Roasted Vegetable Paste see the Recipe Notes
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine see the Recipe Notes
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream see the Recipe Notes
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Prep. Dice the onion. Remove any tough or damaged outer leaves of the head of cabbage and thinly slice it into ¼" slices of cabbage using a sharp chef's knife.
- Sauté. Melt the butter in a pan suitable for braising over medium heat, and add the chopped onion, caraway seeds, salt and pepper. If you don't have a pan specifically designed for braising, you can use a large pan with vertical sides at least 2" high, a large Dutch oven, or deep sauté pan. (See the Equipment Notes.)Sauté until the onion is completely softened and almost melting into the butter. Check the onions every couple of minutes and toss using a wooden spoon to prevent it from browning. Add 4 cups of the cabbage, and toss to coat with the onions and butter. Place a lid on the braising pan and continue to cook over low heat until the cabbage wilts. Check the cabbage periodically and nudge it around the braiser as needed to evenly cook.
- Simmer. Add ¼ cup of water, the Bouillon, and wine. Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and then add the remaining 2 cups of cabbage. Replace the lid, and continue to simmer until the second addition of cabbage is completely softened. Add additional vegetable broth if needed using a ratio of ¼ teaspoon Bouillon per ¼ cup of water.Remove the lid and continue to cook, if needed, until almost all of the braising liquid is cooked off. Note: The total cooking time is dependent upon the thickness of the cabbage slices. The more thinly the head of cabbage is slice, the faster the slices will wilt and braise.
- Whisk. Whisk together the cream and mustard in a small bowl and stir into the cabbage. This is the step that brings fabulous extra flavor to this braised cabbage dish. Correct for any seasoning.
- Serve. Serve warm.
Notes
Equipment Notes
- If you don't have a brasier, you can use any large skillet with a lid that ideally has vertical sides at least 2" high or a Le Creuset Dutch oven. The higher sides of the skillet promote steaming and braising versus a shallow skillet.
Ingredient Notes
- Yellow onions - Don't substitute white onions, sweet onions, or red onions.
- Cabbage - The kind of cabbage you use will affect the final braised dish and Savoy cabbage is my favorite choice for braising because of its frilly appearance. Napa cabbage can be substituted, but its leaves are more delicate and will soften much quicker. Light green cabbage is hardier and will need a longer cook time, although can be substituted in a pinch. Do not use red cabbage. Check out this article for the differences between 5 main types of cabbage carried in most markets.
- Kosher salt - There is a variety of brands that sell kosher salt and they differ from each other in the size of each salt crystal. This can throw off the amount needed in recipes since small crystals fit more salt into a teaspoon than large ones. I recommend Diamond Crystal, which has larger crystals than Morton's Kosher Salt but smaller than 365 brand sold in Whole Foods grocers.
- Vegetable stock - I use Better Than Bouillon Paste, Roasted Vegetables, which is available in most supermarkets. If you use store-bought or homemade vegetable broth, you may need to add additional salt to the recipe.
- White wine - Any light, dry white wine works great, such as a sauvignon blanc or fume blanc.
- Heavy Whipping Cream - Half & half can work in this recipe, but neither whole milk nor 2% should be used. They are too thin for this recipe.
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Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is provided as an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, substitutions, portion sizes, and preparation methods. If you have specific dietary or medical needs, please consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian.
Karen
Thank you for the geography lesson. Love Katie's blog, and am totally jealous of her world travels! And your photo is beautiful.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much!! This recipe was absolutely wonderful!!! And yes, I'd love to trade lives with Katie for a month 🙂
Karen
I LOVE the humble cabbage and feel it need to be promoted more, which is just what you have done here! A wonderful recipe and one that is perfect for Autumn!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
I used to dislike cabbage in any form but I've been warming up to it the older I get. I'm tempted to try this!
Cheese with Noodles
You're totally right, poor cabbage has such a bad image. I think people instantly imagine stinkiness, limpness, and abject poverty. Didn't Charlie Bucket's family eat a lot of really sad cabbage soup? But cabbage is so good! This recipe looks like a great way to highlight such an underappreciated veggie.
Marla
You've done it! You made me drool over cabbage!! This will definitely make its way into my kitchen before too long. Thanks for posting.
Happy Reveal Day!!
Gin
Okay, I'm lost. The recipe calls for 6 cups of cabbage DIVIDED, but only 4 cups are accounted for in the directions. Help!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Ack!!! You're correct! Thanks for letting know. The other 2 cups are added 10 minutes after the first 4 cups. That way there are different levels of crunchiness in the dish. I will make that change as soon as I'm back on the computer!
Katie
So glad you like the recipe! We love the green Savoy cabbage and it will be showing up again in a few months. Little Andorra is often overlooked in geography lessons LOL
Anna
I used to think I didn't like cabbage, but any more I tend to use in in all kinds of things - soups, stir frys, salads, etc. I never thought of letting the cabbage itself be the star. Yours, however, looks absolutely lovely and demands to be a star. Except for the caraway seeds. I still don't like those.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
It is the simple, unassuming recipes, like this one, that can really sing, eh? Great SRC recipe!
Sid @ Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Just one word, YUM! I just saw a Savoy Cabbage last week in the store, guess I need to go back and get one now. Great choice.
Cheryl
This is the first recipe I have made from your blog. DELICIOUS!!! I look forward to trying more. 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm so thrilled you liked it so much!!!
Mandy
Can you freeze this?
The Wimpy Vegetarian
You can freeze cooked cabbage very successfully up to around 3 months. But I wouldn't freeze after the cream and mustard are added. I'm concerned they might separate through the freezing and thawing process. I suggest braising it all the way through the "Simmer" stage in the recipe. Let it completely cool, and freeze in an air-tight container. When you're ready to serve it, thaw and reheat. At that point, perform the "Whisk" stage and add the cream and mustard. That should work very well.
Liz
This recipe was so easy and absolutely delicious! Its my new go to recipe for cabbage!
Heidi Skopowski
Just made this recipe for dinner. Both my husband and I loved it. I will plan on keeping this recipe.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I’m so happy to hear that!! Thanks for letting me know!
Mikayla
What a delicious savory dish I had it with a roast, but it would go with anything I chose to serve for a meal!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm so glad you liked it!
Colleen
I love cabbage and this recipe took it from humble to gourmet. It was delicious, thank you!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know!
Kim
Such a great side dish! Love how budget friendly it is and it cooks up so well. It is easy to control how crispy or soft you want the cabbage to be.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
You're right! Sometimes I make it more crunchy than other times.
Carrie Robinson
Oh wow! What absolutely delicious way to prepare cabbage. Usually I just fry up my cabbage with a little bacon, but I am going to have to try this recipe next time instead. 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I hope you give it a try!
Tristin
I am a huge fan of cabbage, I just don't think to make it very often. You have definitely inspired me to try out this cabbage dish. Sounds too good to pass up.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I hope you give it a go!
Katie Crenshaw
The butter, cream, and wine added a nice flavor to this braised cabbage. It was so different from the usual way I make cabbage. We loved it.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm glad you liked it!
MSD
Such a great way to prepare cabbage! Love the gorgeous flavors from the white wine. Yum!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Lots of flavor in this dish - I'm so glad you liked it!
Erin
Ooh, I love that this uses caraway seeds! That's something I almost never use but would like to use up. 🙂 And thanks for the tips on different types of cabbage one can use!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Caraway seeds and cabbage are so great together!
Ann
I have only eaten this, have never made it at home before 😉 Sounds simple and delicious!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I hope you give it a try!
Hayley
I’ve always liked cabbage but with your recipe, I now LOVE it! The flavours are delicious and the recipe is easy to follow
The Wimpy Vegetarian
That makes me so happy!
CJ
SO delicious. I'm the only one in my house who will eat cabbage in a meaningful way so I had this three nights in a row and I loved it.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Fabulous!!! This makes me so happy that you liked it that much! It's a favorite of ours too! Thanks for letting me know!
MT Becca
This is a great recipe. I found it when I didn't have time to go to the store, so I made a few substitutions. I used coconut oil for butter; for the caraway seeds, I substituted 1/4 tsp cumin seeds + 1/4 tsp dillweed; I used Japanese cooking wine; and yogurt rather than heavy cream. It turned out very nice (even my 8-y.o. went back for 2nds!). I also found that this cabbage is very good cold; I didn't try it, but I think it would be great on sandwiches.
Susan Pridmore
I'm so happy you (and your 8 y.o.) loved this! It's a very flexible recipe, as you've proven. I think this would be great cold on sloppy joes in place of coleslaw!
Lee
This is a terrific winter recipe. Very flavorful and easy to prepare. Will definitely make this again!
Valerie Merriweather
This is the absolute best braised cabbage ever! Creamy and flavorful. A family favorite indeed!
JJ
I had a lot of cabbage to use up and wanted to try something new. This was super easy and came out lovely! I really like how putting the cabbage in in two parts gives it more texture, and all the flavors are just perfect.
Susan Pridmore
Yay!! That makes me so happy! Thanks for letting me know!