German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (2024)

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German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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MyGerman cabbage recipe, akaSchmorkohl,is very traditional. It's the one I grew up with. Mutti (who came from the Berlin area) made it all the time because she knew that we loved it so much.

It's actually a braised cabbage recipe that is delicious when served with homemade German sausage.

This recipe works for both green cabbage and savoy cabbage. Although the cooking time for the cabbage takes about one hour, the preparation time is fairly quick.

German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (4)

The most flavor comes from the browning of the cabbage. This, along with the browned onion, makes the resulting cabbage dish so delicious.

Leftovers are great when they are stirred into some leftover potatoes that have been fried with any bits of leftover meat and gravy. Such a yummy lunch the next day.

Need that “all’s good with the world” feeling? Comfort food will do that. Get your copy of Oma's German favorites in herComfort Foods e-Cookbook.

German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (5)

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Once you've done the chopping and browning, just add the liquid and it simmers away quietly on the stove.

Stir occasionally to make sure there's enough liquid to keep it from burning, but that's it. Yummy cabbage!

This is an easy way to learn how to cook cabbage and is one of my favorites to include among my Oktoberfest recipes. It seems just like a comfort food and goes so well for cool autumn days and cold winter nights.

Looking for another great cabbage recipe? Check out my Bavarian Braised Cabbage. It's just a bit sweeter than this one, the way many like it in southern Germany.

Ready to make this German cabbage?

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German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (7)

German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept

My German cabbage recipe, aka Schmorkohl, is very traditional. It's actually a braised cabbage recipe that is delicious when served with homemade German sausage.

This recipe works for both green cabbage and savoy cabbage. Although the cooking time for the cabbage takes about one hour, the preparation is easy and fairly quick.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

65 minutes

Total Time

80 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) oil or (26 grams) bacon fat
  • 1 tablespoon (13 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 1¾ lb (800 g) green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 cups (480 milliliters) beef broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon (2 grams) caraway seeds
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon(15 milliliters) white vinegar, or to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the sugar and sliced onion. Brown slightly. Add the cabbage and brown slightly.
  2. Add the broth and caraway seeds. Stir.
  3. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover.
  4. Cook about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If necessary, add extra broth or water so that there is at least 1 inch of liquid in the pot.
  5. When the cabbage is tender, season with salt, pepper, and vinegar. Serve.
  6. Serve with homemadeGerman sausageormeat loafandboiled potatoes.

* * * * *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

05.07.2023 revision update

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German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (19)

German Cabbage Recipe made Just like Oma

By Oma Gerhild Fulson
German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (20)
This German cabbage recipe is very traditional. It's actually a boiled cabbage recipe that is especially good served with sausages. An Oktoberfest and an autumn staple!

Ingredients: green cabbage,oil,sugar,onion,broth,seasonings,vinegar,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Top of German Cabbage Recipe

German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept (2024)

FAQs

German Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Schmorkohl Rezept? ›

Sauerkraut (/ˈsaʊ. ərˌkraʊt/; German: [ˈzaʊ. ɐˌkʁaʊt], lit. 'sour cabbage') is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria.

What is a German dish of chopped cabbage? ›

Sauerkraut (/ˈsaʊ. ərˌkraʊt/; German: [ˈzaʊ. ɐˌkʁaʊt], lit. 'sour cabbage') is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria.

What is cabbage called in Germany? ›

cabbage {noun}

Trottel {m} [coll.]

Why is vinegar added to cabbage? ›

Flavor enhancement: Vinegar can add a tangy, bright flavor to vegetables, making them more palatable. The acidity in vinegar can also help to balance out other flavors and bring out the natural sweetness in the vegetables.

How long should you boil cabbage before it's done? ›

How long should I boil cabbage? 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!

What nationality eats the most cabbage? ›

China produces nearly half of the world's cabbage while Russia consumes the most per person. The average Russian eats about 44 pounds of cabbage a year. That compares to the 8.6 pounds eaten by Americans. Raw cabbage is rich in vitamin C.

What German food literally translates to sour cabbage? ›

I also love how the German word sauerkraut has made it into other languages as well. It literally means “sour cabbage”.

Is sauerkraut good for your kidneys? ›

Sauerkraut is fermented in salt brine, so the sodium content in sauerkraut is quite high. High sodium levels in the body increase blood pressure and the risk of unwanted cardiovascular and renal issues. If you suffer from any diseases, you are recommended to take your doctor's advice before consuming sauerkraut.

How do Germans eat cabbage? ›

Cabbages of all types and colors feature in so many traditional German dishes! Everything from a northern German dish of dark green cabbage and sausage to a hearty Bavarian kohlrabi and white cabbage soup, from blaukraut (a braised red cabbage side dish) to pork chops with sauerkraut, a complete meal in a pan.

What is sauerkraut called in Germany? ›

Sauerkraut is the German language equivalent of “sour cabbage.” In reality though, it can mean different things to different people. To busy home chefs, sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is a fast, easy way to liven up their families' favorite meals.

What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.

Can you cook cabbage too long? ›

Boiled cabbage is notoriously smelly and steaming is often thought of as a less aromatic way to cook the vegetable. However, the pungent smell is actually the result of overcooking. Boil it just until tender, and you won't have a stinky kitchen.

What does pouring salt into a cabbage do? ›

To ferment vegetables, such as cabbage, we take advantage of these two qualities – it's our golden ticket to fermentation! First, we add enough salt to make it difficult for competing microorganisms to survive. The salt then draws moisture out of the cabbage's cells through osmosis, forming a salty brine.

Why do you soak cabbage in water? ›

The solution: Some recipes call for soaking cabbage in ice water to make it crisp and plump.

Can dogs eat cabbage? ›

All varieties of cabbage are not only tasty to your dog, they are also very healthy. Cabbage helps your dog's digestive system and is good for their skin. It can cause flatulence (gas) in dogs, so remember to feed cabbage in small amounts, and introduce it into their diet slowly.

Do you boil cabbage in hot or cold water? ›

There are many ways to prepare cabbage, and a popular cooking method is to boil it. Boil cabbage by cleaning and preparing it, then cooking it in hot water for just a few minutes.

What is the name of a cabbage dish? ›

Cabbages are prepared in many different ways for eating. They can be pickled, fermented for dishes such as sauerkraut, steamed, stewed, sautéed, braised, or eaten raw. Cabbage is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C and dietary fiber. Contaminated cabbage has been linked to cases of food-borne illness in humans.

What is labskaus in Germany? ›

Labskaus (German: [ˈlapskaʊ̯s]) is a culinary speciality from northern Germany and in particular from the cities of Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck. The main ingredients are salted meat or corned beef, potatoes, and onion.

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