Cabbage doesn't sound sexy but is a wonderful ingredient, be it green or red, Savoy or hispi, spring and sweetheart (though the last three are one and the same variety). I think we have moved miles away from the boiled, smelly mush of school dinners, and embraced the endless possibilities that all those various types of cabbage offer.
Cabbage is a wonderful plant, rich in fibre and negligible in calorie content. It is a good source of vitamins K and C, and folate. Cabbage is a brassica which means it is very closely related to broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi. Kale is a cabbage. Brussels sprouts are cabbages. Pak choi and all the other Asian chois are cabbages too.
Cabbage lends itself to all methods of cooking as well as raw preparations. It can be fermented into sauerkraut or kimchi, it makes fantastic salads, you can grill it and stir-fry it, braise it and roast it, and even make a lasagne filling. Here are my top 10 cabbage recipes, for the green and white, red and Napa, Savoy and hispi.
Buttered cabbage is a delicious side dish prepared in the easiest way possible. Pack the shredded, seasoned hispi (sweetheart) cabbage into a saucepan with butter, cover with a lid and cook on medium heat, hands off. And it works with other cabbage varieties too!
Grilled hispi cabbage is a trendy dish, and rightly so because grilled hispi aka sweetheart or pointy is delicious. Temptingly charred quarters cooked in a frying pan or griddle with almond flakes can be as tender or crunchy as you like it. The secret is the optional ingredient added at the end of cooking.
Grilled hispi with almonds
RECIPE
Spring or pointy cabbage salad is easy and incredibly healthy, made with lightly salted and drained cabbage seasoned with herbs and a touch of garlic. It’s a welcome change from lettuce or mixed greens, and it's the perfect side for BBQ.
Savoy cabbage looks impressively crinkly, so much so that you could imagine it as a decorative element of your kitchen. It’s lovely roasted in wedges, with Parmesan and thyme, charred in a frying pan then oven baked. It’s a perfect side for fish or pork.
Cabbage and minced pork is the perfect combo, put together in this easy recipe of spicy Asian flavours. Pork mince with green, sweetheart or Napa cabbage makes a delicious, easy and budget dish that resembles both East European peasant food and a good Chinese stir-fry.
Cabbage with minced pork
RECIPE
What a delicious and healthy vegetarian dish! Cabbage and walnut casserole is baked with a savoury mixture of onions, spices and herbs. This Ottolenghi-inspired comfort food is perfect for any occasion. Topped with sour cream, it's a tasty and satisfying meal that's easy to make and sure to impress.
Cabbage and walnut casserole
RECIPE
No, it’s not cabbage leaves substituting pasta: this is a filling for lasagne made with cabbage. Cabbage lasagne is a vegetarian dish of pasta layered with lightly cooked cabbage with tomatoes. Surprisingly flavourful and delicious!
Another way to cook cabbage: crispy and caramelised until it turns brown. It’s cabbage Swedish style cooked like in Swedish cabbage meatloaf, kalpudding (another brilliant cabbage recipe). This method turns the vegetable into deeply savoury, rich and tasty side dish.
Crispy caramelised cabbage
RECIPE
Shred it, salt it and leave it to the fermenting magic: sauerkraut has many health benefits being a probiotic-rich food, a source of fibre and numerous nutrients. This is an easy recipe for homemade spiced sauerkraut ready in 1 - 3 weeks.
A vibrant, festive side dish of roasted red cabbage with pears, pomegranate molasses, butter, and cashew nuts, rich in flavour, texture and antioxidants. This gorgeous recipe delivers tangy, sweet notes and it’s perfect for holiday tables or any hearty meal.
Sweet and sour red cabbage
RECIPE