Create Your Own Vegan Cooked Cabbage Recipe

For years I never considered making a cooked cabbage recipe because it always just looked unappetizing to me. Do you know what I mean? And the aroma of cooked cabbage? Very...ummm...unique.

So for years I only ate cabbage raw, in the form of coleslaw. Let me just say I had NO idea what I was missing!

Now, cabbage is one of my fave veggies because it is SOOOO easy to clean and prepare. Cabbage is delectable, especially when cooked, which allows it to become more digestible and the nutrients more available.

Before you learn how easy it is to make your own cooked cabbage recipe, it's important to learn how to select your head of cabbage.

Then I'll show you how to flavor your cabbage to perfection. And we'll round it out with the health benefits of this interesting and highly nutritious vegetable.

How To Select Cabbage

Look for Cabbage with crisp and smooth outer leaves, with no tears, bruises or cracks. If you see any damage on the outside, chances are there will be damage on the inside, most likely in the form of worms or other pests.

Also, look to the bottom to see if the leaves are beginning to separate from the stem -- if so, pass on it as this is an indication of age.

Red or purple cabbage takes longer to mature. You will find the leaves to be thicker and a little more tough than the green.

How To Clean and Prep Cabbage

Remove outer leaves and discard. Cut head of cabbage into quarters or desired size. Rinse if desired. Your veggie is now ready to be used in any cooked cabbage recipe.

How To Cook Cabbage

Baked Cabbage
Before baking your cabbage, you might want to boil or steam the leaves first....

Boiled Cabbage
Boiled cabbage is best when making soups, but learn how to keep the water from turning blue...

Braised Cabbage
Slightly brown your cabbage before adding liquid to the pan to complete the cooking process...

Sauteed Cabbage
This cooking technique works nicely when you'd like your cabbage to gain a little flavor with the liquid you will cook it in....

Steamed Cabbage
a favorite way of preparing cabbage since there is no added fat...

Stir-Fried Cabbage
Fun way to eat your cabbabe. Shred the leaves first....

Eat it RAW! (My personal favorite. Great shredded in salads or coleslaw.)

Cabbage Vegan Flavor Matches

Create your very own cabbage recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with cabbage.

ALL VARIETIES
Agave Nectar, or brown rice syrup, or light maple syrup
Apples
Beets
Bulgur
Butter, non-dairy (I like Earth Balance)
Caraway Seeds
Celery
Chestnuts
Coconut
Cream, non-dairy (I like Silk Soy Creamer)
Garlic
Horseradish
Leeks
Lemon
Juniper Berries
Madeira
Mayonnaise, dairy- and egg-free (I like Vegennaise)
Miso
Mustard
Nutmeg
Onions
Paprika
Parsley
Pepper
Poppy Seeds
Potatoes
Salt
Sauerkraut
Savory
Spinach
Tomatoes
Vinegar

ESPECIALLY GOOD MATCHES WITH RED
Apples
Bay Leaves
Cheese, non-dairy
Chestnuts
Cinnamon
Cloves
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic
Miso
Onions
Pepper
Salt
Sucanat, or brown sugar
Thyme
Vinegar, especially wine
Walnuts
Wine, especially red

ESPECIALLY GOOD MATCHES WITH RAW
Apples
Carrots
Celery Root
Chervil
Chives
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Lime
Nut Oil
Peppers, green
Vinegar, especially sherry and white wine

Psssst...Get ALL the Flavor Matches found throughout VeganCoach.com all in one place with this handy dandy e-book Your Guide To Vegan Flavor Matches.

CLICK HERE TO ASK A QUESTION
ABOUT COOKING CABBAGE

Cabbage Helpful Hints

• The green variety works best for coleslaw or other raw dishes.
• The Napa or Savoy variety has more delicate, crinkly leaves and is the most tender and sweet -- if using to "stuff", this would be your best choice since it holds up nice and strong when exposed to longer cooking times.
• Red cabbage turns blue when cooked for a length of time. To avoid color loss when building your very own cooked cabbage recipe: When cooking for longer periods of time (such as boiling) add a splash of vinegar to the cooking water.
• In the midst of creating your cooked cabbage recipe, you may notice a rather unpleasant odor. This occurs, usually, when it's boiled. To avoid, wrap a piece of bread in cheesecloth and add it to your pot. Alternatively, add some savory leaves to the water.
• One of the most popular ways to enjoy this veggie is by stuffing it. Create your own stuffed cabbage recipe by first steaming it until tender. Then mix up a delectable stuffing using some of your favorite Vegan Flavor Matches. Stuff those leaves, roll together, and cover with some marinara, or your favorite vegan sauce. Bake, covered, at 350 until hot (usually 30-40 minutes).

Discover the Nutritional Value of Cabbage

World's Healthiest Foods.com

If You Like Cabbage Try...

Broccoli!

Brussels Sprouts!

Bok Choy!

Kale!

Cauliflower!

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