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Last Updated on December 16, 2023
Cabbage can benefit your health in various ways. But if you feel they are too boring, here are a few ways to make them into something delightful.
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Cabbage in my opinion is one of the most misunderstood vegetables out there. It gets mistaken for lettuce; surely, it can’t get any worse than that. If you want to improve your eating habits, cabbage will inevitably become a part of your diet.
You might think that cabbages are not appetizing, but that is far from the truth. With a little diligence, you can whip up a cabbage dish that will make you licking your fingers! Whether you’re an aspiring chef wanting to experiment with a new dish or someone who just wants to eat healthier, here are some fantastic ways to add more cabbage to your menu.
Why Should You Eat More Cabbage?
Cabbage is generously packed with nutrients crucial to your health. It contains vitamin B6 and B9, which are important and needed for metabolism and healthy functioning of the nervous system. It also has a high fiber content, which relieves constipation.
Furthermore, cabbage fights inflammation and contains antioxidants; these chemicals help keep free radicals at bay, thus protecting your body from suffering cell damage due to oxidative stress. In simple terms, antioxidants protect you from cancer.
Sounds convincing enough? If so, then let’s get into the good stuff.
Cabbage Soup
I put this in the beginning because it sounds the most unappealing. After watching Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, I’m sure nobody wants to be anywhere near cabbage soup. However, you might want to give it another try and cook it for yourself. With a stock of your choice and some vegetables like carrots, it’ll pull together in no time! If you’ve got some leftover proteins (preferably meat), have them shredded and toss them into the mix. All you need to do from there is to season it to perfection, and you are good to go.
Cabbage Kimchi
Without a doubt, if anything makes cabbage look more appetizing, then it’s Korean mukbang shows. A side dish that makes frequent appearances on mukbangs is the cabbage kimchi. It’s refreshing, sweet, sour and spicy – the perfect side dish to go with ramen or fried rice!
Now, here’s a fun question: can you freeze cabbage? You sure can! If you happen to have some cabbage leftover, freeze it so that you can use it to make a nice batch of cabbage kimchi. Kimchi requires the ingredients to be refrigerated and fermented. Luckily, cabbage can be frozen and stored for a long time, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Lemon Garlic Sauteed Cabbage
When cabbage is cooked thoroughly, it becomes sweet. What better way to take it a step further, by adding a little lemon and garlic? Saute the cabbage in olive oil after shredding. If you want to add more protein to the dish, go ahead and do so by putting in some chicken or beef. The lemon gives a burst of acidity and the garlic adds flavor, mixed together with the sweetness of sauteed cabbage it makes for a delicious platter.
Braised Red Cabbage
How about making something that looks and tastes good? Braised red cabbage will not only complement your main course, but also visually brighten up the look of your table when it’s served! It’s perfect for chilly weather, and is very easy to prepare. All you need is some sugar, vinegar and any oil (healthy options include olive oil and coconut oil).
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a timeless classic. I’ve lost count of the number of times I ordered coleslaw over mashed potato at KFC. You have to agree that the sweetness of coleslaw mixes perfectly with the savory chicken. Why not make it for yourself? Coleslaw will taste good with anything that’s got a little heat in it. The traditional coleslaw is made with carrots as well – it can be your daily source of beta-carotene!
Sauerkraut
This will probably take a moment for you to pronounce properly; but once you’ve had a taste, it’ll always be on the tip of your tongue! This European side dish, like kimchi, is on the sour side. You start by shredding the cabbage, then adding salt, kneading it until the cabbage starts releasing water. Afterward, the mixture is densely packed in a glass jar, and allowed to ferment in this briny solution for about two weeks. Sauerkraut is great to add into your sandwiches or burgers!
Stir-Fry Your Noodles with Cabbage
Cabbage will make your noodles more nutritious and flavorful. It’ll also give you that crunchy texture. Many of our favorite stir-fried noodles, like chowmein, are made with cabbage. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can add some interesting seasonings to your cabbage stir-fried noodles. Throw in some crushed cashews or peanuts while you’re at it.
Cabbage Rolls
There’s a lot of room for creativity here. First, you will need to steam your cabbage leaves. Then, you can fill in the roll with a variety of ingredients, like beef, chicken, rice and other vegetables. When that’s done,simply cook the rolls in some tomato sauce or puree.
Bacon Wrapped Cabbage
If you don’t want the cabbage to do the wrapping, then try wrapping the cabbage in bacon instead. Season the cabbage with whatever you prefer – since this will be the filling, try to incorporate ingredients that will go together to produce a mouth watering combo. Wrap your seasoned cabbages with bacon and bake in the oven. You can enjoy this dish with any dipping sauce.
Spicy Cabbage
Looking for something a little extra? Try cooking up some South Asian style spicy cabbage. Cooking your cabbage this way will give it a lovely aroma. It’s quite simple, requiring no more than 5 ingredients, and can be put together in a pinch.
Going on a diet or changing your eating habits probably sounds a hundred times better now that you’ve gone through my list. Whether it’s sweet, sour, spicy or savory, cabbage can encompass it all!
