Crispy red cabbage can be added to a green salad.
Red cabbage is a mature cabbage with a strong peppery flavor and tough leaves. Its color is a response to different acids and bases, turning blue or purple after preparation. Red cabbage is also known as blue kraut or red kraut. It is commonly used for coleslaw and salads, and is popularly used as an alternative to green cabbage to add color and presentation to salads and cooked dishes.
A head of red cabbage is rich in fiber and vitamin C and can make many nutritious meals and snacks. Red cabbage is best prepared with a short cooking time, before it starts to smell too much, and is best prepared in stainless steel pots or pans. A medium-sized head of cabbage will serve nearly nine servings, cooked or raw, and can be served in a variety of dishes, from coleslaw and salads to more adventurous cooked variations. It can be served as a side dish or appetizer, pickled or boiled, or simply as a small, colorful side dish for a well-prepared meal.
The red color of cabbage, when improperly prepared, can take on different colors. These color changes are due to the pigments in the soil where the cabbage was harvested and the pH value of the soil. The most common discoloration is an unsightly bluish-gray color, although alkaline soil will produce a greenish-yellow cabbage. To avoid color changes, red cabbage should be cooked with vinegar or other acidic products. Stainless steel cookware should also be used to prevent color changes during cooking.
Red cabbage takes 70-75 days to harvest, a similar time frame to a green cabbage, but faster than a kale cabbage. Meteor Red Cabbage takes 75 days, harvests firm, and is good for all seasons. Ruby ball cabbage is harvested much larger, is resistant to heat and cold, and is slow to burst. Red cabbage is generally smaller and denser than green cabbage.
Red cabbage should be harvested in well-fertilized soil in late winter or early spring. Cabbage is usually planted about a month before the last frost of the year. The pot of a red cabbage must allow movement and penetration of water and requires a diet of frequent watering, although it is an easy plant to care for. They are planted about 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) apart and thrive in moist environments.