AIP Friendly Coconut Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
Braised cabbage might sound humble, but this version is genuinely stunning — deep jewel-purple, glossy, and perfumed with warm Ceylon cinnamon and ginger as it slow-cooks down into something almost jammy. Tart Granny Smith apples melt into the mix, adding a gentle sweetness that balances the tang of apple cider vinegar without any refined sugars beyond a single tablespoon of honey. Every ingredient here is carefully chosen to stay within autoimmune protocol guidelines, which means no nightshades, no grains, no eggs, and no seed-based spices — just whole, clean foods that your body can work with. Coconut oil does the heavy lifting as the cooking fat, giving the onions and garlic a beautifully soft, fragrant base before the cabbage goes in. The long, covered braise — 35 to 40 minutes over low heat — is what transforms everything from raw and crunchy into tender, collapsing ribbons that soak up all that sweet-tart braising liquid. This makes four servings and works beautifully as a side alongside roasted meat, or honestly just on its own when you want something warming and deeply satisfying.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small head red cabbage (about 2 lb), cored and thinly sliced
- 2 medium tart apples (such as granny smith), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
Ingredient noteAIP restricts added sweeteners, but small occasional amounts of unrefined honey are accepted on the protocol; the ~3/4 teaspoon per serving here likely stays within that limited allowance. If you prefer to always avoid honey, please tap it and change its rating to Red.
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Melt the coconut oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until shimmering.
- 2
Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5–6 minutes.
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