Twelve Days of Irish Recipes: Gemma and Vicky's Veggies
Written by Ciaran on Dec 05, 2025 | 0 Comments
We're sharing one of our own recipes each day as part of our 12 Days of Christmas offers, inspired by that traditional carol and the funny Irish version, Christmas Countdown.
After all the carbs of the last few days we have marginally more healthy options for you on Day 5 with lots of glasraí, vegetables.
My daughter and Jane preparing a mountain of glasraí for Christmas dinner a few years back.
Photo Credit: C. Vipond
I say marginally more healthy, because this is Christmas after all, and our recipes certainly are a little extra whether savory or sweet! These are the trimmings that make Christmas dinner a real feast.
Gemma’s Braised Red Cabbage (serves 8 to 10)
Cabbage shares some of the Irish cultural associations that potato holds too. Cheap and easy to grow in Ireland year round, cabbage is at the core of a few national staples like colcannon. It is also shockingly good for you, something I was regularly told as a child! Gemma's braised cabbage recipe below is a far cry from the steamed or worse, boiled, stuff served up in my youth. It is a real treat and goes VERY well with another Irish Christmas favourite, ham!
Ingredients
- 1 red cabbage finely shredded
- 2 red onions finely sliced
- 1 Large cooking apple peeled and chopped finely
- 4 tbsp of oil
- 100 grams or 4 oz dried cranberries
- 300 mls or 1 1/4 cup of red wine
- 300 mls or 1 1/4 cup of pomegranate juice
- 2 tbsp of Raspberry jam
- 4 tbsp of red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp of mixed spice
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of ground cloves
- salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Heat the oil on a large pan over a medium heat.
- Add the shredded red cabbage and onions and sauté them on a medium heat for about 5 minutes until they soften, making sure not to let them brown or burn!
- Stir in the cranberries and apple, then add the red wine, pomegranate juice, jam and spices and stir it up to mix
- Bring to the boil, and then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 1 hour.
- Check it every 10 to 20 minutes or so. Give it a stir so nothing sticks, until the cabbage is tender and the liquid has reduced down.
- Gemma recommends garnishing with pomegranate seeds if you are feeling fancy to give it a really festive look!
- Serve as a side with Christmas dinner and watch it disappear!
Photo Credit: J. Chadwick
Vicky’s Cheesy Sprout Gratin
Brussel sprouts divide houses at this time of year. Some love them and wouldn’t have Christmas without them, others loathe them and would rather walk over hot coals than let one pass their lips. As a child I was very much in the latter camp.
As I have got older though, and I have tried them stir fried, or roasted, with bacon, or chilli, I can honestly say that I am now a very enthusiastic member of “team sprout”! So much so that I eat them as soon as they come into season... Not just for Christmas!
I started my daughter on sprouts early... she is now 11 and is still very suspicious of them despite my best efforts to recruit her to team sprout. I wont give up though!
Photo Credit: C. Vipond
I haven’t had the pleasure of trying Vicky’s cheesy sprouts but imagine that this is a match made in heaven. Her immaculately hand-written recipe is below.
Photo Credit: V. Lowsley
What's Next?
Check back in with us tomorrow for Day 6 of our Twelve Days of Irish Christmas, or open door number 5 of our 12 Days of Christmas offers! And, of course, if you need any help selecting a gift for yourself or a loved one, please do get in touch.
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Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
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