Christmas Red Cabbage

Besides baked besugo (bream), and roast turkey or capon, the traditional madrileño Christmas feast always includes lombarda, the delicious red cabbage slowly braised with apples and smoky salt pork until all the flavors meld. Some versions of the dish include diced potatoes; others have raisins and pine nuts, so feel free to play around with the ingredients. Pancetta makes a good substitute for Spanish salt pork, but for a vegetarian dish you can skip it. This cabbage i