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Red Cabbage (choux rouges à la flamande)

Erken's red cabbage à la flamande: finely shredded red cabbage braised 3–4 hours in red currant syrup, red wine, water, butter, salt, sugar and beet vinegar, optionally with apples the last hour, thickened with potato starch and seasoned. Served with rich meat dishes, goose, and duck.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 389 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

Red cabbage in the Flemish manner, with red currant syrup, red wine, and beet vinegar giving both acidity and color. Elsewhere in the chapter, Erken stresses that vegetables keep their color best if first doused with boiling and then cold water. The dish belongs with rich meat dishes, goose, and duck.

How to make it

  1. 1

    Shred the cabbage

    Clean the head of red cabbage, cut it into quarters, and cut away the thick stem. Shred the rest into fine strips.

  2. 2

    Put in the pot

    Place the cabbage in an enameled pot together with red currant syrup, red wine, water, butter, salt, sugar, and beet vinegar.

  3. 3

    Braise

    Let the cabbage braise, covered, for 3–4 hours. For the last hour, take off the lid and stir the cabbage regularly.

  4. 4

    Apples

    If you like, add 4 peeled apples in wedges for the last hour.

  5. 5

    Thicken and season

    If the cabbage is too thin, thicken it with potato starch stirred into a couple of tablespoons of red currant syrup. Season with salt, sugar, and vinegar.

  6. 6

    Serve

    Serve the red cabbage with rich meat dishes, goose, and duck.

Changes from the original

Measurements converted to modern units (dl, grams). "Potetesmel" is potato starch/cornstarch. The apples have been included in the ingredient list as an optional addition. An enameled pot is still recommended to preserve the color.

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Time machine – what changed?

Pick two editions and see what Henriette Schønberg Erken added, removed or changed between them.

1914 (proofread, p. 389) → Modernised~84% of the text changedremovedadded
1 rødkaalhode 1 del. ribssaft 1 1/4 del. rødvin stk rødkålhode (ca. 1,5 kg). 1 1/2 del. vand dl ripssaft. 1,25 dl rødvin. 1,5 dl vann. 50 gr. smør g smør. 1 teskje salt (eller etter smak). 1 teske teskje sukker (eller etter smak). 1 spiseskefuld rødbeteeddik spiseskje rødbeteeddik. 1 teske potetesmel. Kaalhodet renses, deles teskje potetmel (til jevning, utrørt i litt ripssaft). 4 stk epler (skrelt og delt i åtte – valgfritt, tilsettes siste time). Rens rødkålhodet, del det i fire dele, og skjær bort den tykke stilk bortskjæres. Resten skjæres stilken. Snitt resten i fine strimler, lægges strimler.. Legg kålen i en emaljert gryte sammen med saft, vin, vand, ripssaft, rødvin, vann, smør, salt, sukker og rødbeteeddik. Kaalen dampes heri 3 à 4 timer, den sidste time uten lok og rødbeteeddik.. La kålen dampe under omrøren. Man kan den sidste time tilsætte 4 skrællede lokk i 3–4 timer. Den siste timen tas lokket av og ottedelte epler. Er kaalen tynd, kan kålen røres om jevnlig.. Ønsker du det, tilsettes 4 skrelte epler i båter den siste timen.. Er kålen for tynn, jevnes den med potetesmelet, potetmel utrørt med i et par spiseskefulde saft. Salt, spiseskjeer ripssaft. Smak til med salt, sukker og eddik tilsættes efter smak. Surkaalen serveres eddik.. Server rødkålen til fete kjøtretter, gaas kjøttretter, gås og and.

Note on Modernised

Mål omregnet til moderne enheter (dl, gram). «Potetesmel» er potetmel/maisenna. Eplene er tatt inn i ingredienslisten som valgfritt tilsetning. Emaljert gryte anbefales fortsatt for å bevare fargen.

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Frequently asked questions

How long must the red cabbage braise?
The cabbage is braised 3 to 4 hours. For the last hour it should cook uncovered and be stirred, so the liquid cooks down.
What gives the red cabbage its color and tart flavor?
Red currant syrup, red wine, and a tablespoon of beet vinegar, together with a little sugar and salt. The flavor is adjusted at the end with salt, sugar, and vinegar.
Can I put apples in the red cabbage?
Yes, for the last hour you can add 4 peeled apples cut into eight wedges.
What do I do if the cabbage turns out too thin, and what is it served with?
Thicken it with 1 teaspoon potato starch stirred into a couple of tablespoons of syrup. The red cabbage is served with rich meat dishes, goose, and duck.

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