What Are The Benefits Of Eating Cabbage?

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Cabbage? It’s tasty, versatile, low cost and has a longer shelf life than other veggies. Grab a head on your next shopping trip!

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Cabbage?
What Are The Benefits Of Eating Cabbage?

You may have noticed that I have a lot of recipes on this site that use cabbage and there’s a very good reason for that.  I love cabbage.

The flavor of raw cabbage is strong and slightly bitter, which accounts for the tendency to serve it with dressing and accompaniments that are slightly sweet.  When cabbage is cooked, it becomes much milder and tends to blend with whatever items it’s cooked with.

This brings us to its versatility.  Cabbage can be eaten cooked or raw, hot or cold.  Shred it, chop it, boil it, fry it, braise it, roast it.  Cut it into steaks and throw it on the grill.  Wrap it around some ground meat and rice to make cabbage rolls.  The possibilities are endless.  Seriously.

Then there’s the low cost. Cabbage is second only to potatoes in terms of price per edible cup.  In today’s economy, we’re all looking to stretch a dollar as far as we can and cabbage can certainly help with that!  Maybe this is why the term cabbage sometimes refers to money!

Wait…did I mention that cabbage can last up to 2 months in your refrigerator? 

What Are The Health Benefits Of Cabbage?

What Are The Health Benefits Of Eating Cabbage?
What Are The Health Benefits Of Eating Cabbage?

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable.  This type of vegetable has long been known for its health benefits, including cancer prevention, protection from radiation therapy, heart health as well as improving immunity and digestion.

It has powerful levels of vitamin K, magnesium, folate and beta-carotene, to just name a few.

At 17 calories and 4 carbohydrates per cooked half-cup (one cup raw), cabbage is a valuable part of a low calorie and low carb diet!

What About Fermented Cabbage?

What About Fermented Cabbage?
What About Fermented Cabbage?

Fermented cabbage, or sauerkraut as it is more commonly known, is a way to preserve cabbage by simply combining it with salt.  It then ferments at room temperature for 2-4 weeks, resulting in a salty and sour treat that will keep for up to a year in your fridge.

Not only does it taste great, but it also has good bacteria and provides probiotics, which are great for gut health and digestion.  Click here for step-by-step instructions to make your own sauerkraut right at home!

A similar method for preserving cabbage is to pickle it.  While it doesn’t last as long as sauerkraut, you can store it in the fridge for 4-6 weeks.

To make pickled cabbage shed enough cabbage to pack tightly into a quart-sized canning jar.  Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar and 1 tbsp sugar in a small saucepan.  Bring it to a boil, stirring to melt the sugar.  Pour liquid into the jar to cover the cabbage completely.  Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours before using.

Feel free to mix up this pickled recipe however you want to by adding additional veggies (I add onions) and/or using a different kind of vinegar.  You can also add more sugar if you prefer a “sweet and tart” version.  

What’s The Difference Between Red And Green Cabbage?

What’s The Difference Between Red And Green Cabbage?
What’s The Difference Between Red And Green Cabbage?

While there are lots of different kinds of cabbage, the most common types are the cannonball cabbage, better known as green cabbage and red cabbage, also known as purple cabbage.

Some people feel that the red variety is sweeter and is more tender when cooked but I find the flavor and texture (cooked or uncooked) to be virtually interchangeable.

Both red and green cabbage are good for you but red cabbage packs a more powerful nutritional profile and more overall antioxidants.

I think the biggest difference between the two is the appearance, both raw and cooked.  For example, I like the look of red cabbage in this colorful and creamy broccoli coleslaw, as it contrasts nicely with the green broccoli and brown raisins.

On the other hand, I prefer the green variety to make andouille sausage with cabbage.  The cabbage, paired with multi-colored peppers and sausage results in a visually pleasing color palette.

What Are The Best Ways To Cook Cabbage?

What Are The Best Ways To Cook Cabbage?
What Are The Best Ways To Cook Cabbage?

I’m glad you asked!  Cabbage is incredibly versatile, as I mentioned before.  I’ve found that different types of cabbage can be used interchangeably in many recipes.

When I made homemade Chinese dumplings, it called for ½ of a head each of green and Napa cabbage.  That left me with, you guessed it, ½ of a head each of green and Napa cabbage to use up after I was done.

I used the leftover Napa to make this Chinese chicken cabbage soup (no relation to the cabbage soup diet!) but I have also used regular green cabbage in the soup with good results.

I then made meatballs and cabbage using the remaining green cabbage and some meatballs I had in my freezer.  I have also replaced the bean sprouts in fried vegetable spring rolls with green cabbage because that’s what I had on hand at the time.

This Is How The Cow Eats The Cabbage

This Is How The Cow Eats The Cabbage
This Is How The Cow Eats The Cabbage

So, here it is.  All the reasons I love cabbage.  If I could write a song about it, I would.

What’s your take?  Do you like cabbage?  What’s your favorite way to eat it?  Let me know in the comments below!

 

All My Best,

Cynthia
cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

 

Meatballs and Cabbage

Meatballs and cabbage is a quick and easy one-skillet meal that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Make it gluten-free by using rolled oats in the meatballs instead of bread crumbs.

Meatballs and Cabbage
Meatballs and Cabbage

Meatballs and Cabbage

 

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)

1 (14 oz) can chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp beef bouillon powder

Salt and pepper to taste

8 Best Italian Meatballs*

6 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage (1¼ lb)

Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

 

Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy skillet.  Add onions and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent (5-7 minutes).  Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Mix together tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar and beef bouillon powder.  Pour into the skillet and add the meatballs.

Cover with cabbage and cook for 30-40 minutes until cabbage is tender and meatballs are cooked to an internal temperature of 160℉.  Turn cabbage and meatballs gently and occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve immediately.

 

*To make this recipe gluten-free, use the gluten-free version option of the meatball recipe.

 

2 servings, 480 calories per serving

 

Hack:  Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days or freeze in serving-sized portions for up to 3 months.

Hack:  Check the produce department for loose celery stalks.  If you don’t see them, ask a clerk if they’re available.

Hack:  Shop the salad bar if you just need a small amount of an item that you don’t think you’ll use again before it “goes over”.

Hack:  Ask the produce clerk to cut a head of cabbage into wedges so you’ll only have to buy what you need.  They’ll wrap the leftover pieces and put it back on the shelf for sale.

Hack: Use leftover green cabbage to make Andouille Sausage With CabbageHomemade Chinese Dumplings or Simple Healthy Coleslaw!

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