Prepare cabbage: remove outer leaves, cut into quarters, remove the core, and cut/shred into thin slices.
2 pounds (900g) red cabbage
Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater and dice the onion.
1 medium onion, 1 tart apple
Heat butter and duck fat (if using) in a large Dutch oven, then add the onion and all the spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, allspice, bay leaves, orange zest). Cook over medium heat for about 5–7 minutes, until the onion is very soft.
3 tablespoons butter, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cardamom pods, 6 cloves, 2 allspice berries, 2 bay leaves, A couple of strips of orange zest
Optional – remove the small spices – allspice, cloves, and cardamom, so you don’t have to look for them later in a whole pot of cabbage.
Add all the other ingredients – grated apple, vinegar, honey, sugar, black currant juice, and red currant jam. Season very slightly with salt.
1/3 cup (80ml) red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar, 1 ½ cups (360ml) black currant juice, 2 tablespoons red currant jam
Cover the pot completely with a lid and cook for 2 hours (or to your desired texture of the cabbage, at least 1 ½ hours). Stir the cabbage from time to time, making sure there is enough liquid in the pot and nothing sticks to the bottom.
When the cabbage is ready (soft enough for your liking – some like it softer and some more crunchy) and there is too much liquid in the pot, increase the heat and cook, stirring, without the lid until the liquid is evaporated. I cooked my cabbage in a closed pot for 1 hour 45 minutes and then 15 minutes uncovered.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the sweet-sour balance if necessary by adding more sugar or more vinegar (but be careful with adding vinegar).
Serve warm.
Enjoy!