If you think cabbages are only for coleslaw, I want to share how to cook easy cabbage recipes you’ll enjoy. Whether fried, braised, boiled, stir-fried, or raw, there are so many ways to enjoy cabbage. Once you learn how to cook cabbage perfectly, a quick meal will never be far from hand .
Of Cabbages and Kings
I don’t know how many kings ate cabbage (or queens for that matter) but I do know that for the price of an inexpensive cabbage, it is indeed possible to eat like royalty.
And yes I did just bake in an O. Henry reference, (bake in, har har sorry!) who used to be one of my favorite authors when I was 10. Yes, I was weird and read books meant for adults for a very young age.
So let’s talk how different types of cabbages . We use that term as though it referred to one vegetable, but in fact, cabbages are part of the brassica family that includes Brussel sprouts , cauliflower, broccoli and even kale. Here are some common varieties.
While there are hundreds of varieties of cabbage in the world, here are the five most common varieties that are widely available in American grocery stores. (Leave me a comment to tell me which cabbage varieties are common in your country!)
Different Varieties of Cabbage
- Green cabbage . The most commonly found variety, a good green cabbage is smooth, heavy, with tightly packed leaves, and no splits or cracks in it. It looks a lot like iceberg lettuce but is much heavier. The slightly peppery leaves hold up well to cooking.
- Red Cabbage. Also known as Purple cabbage, these have colorful shiny firm leaves. Red cabbage is most often braised but can also be eaten raw in salads.
- Savoy Cabbage. These are the dark green and white cabbages with crinkled, veiny leaves. Savory cabbage tends to be a little sweeter than the others, and is most often stir-fried. The leaves are more pliable than other cabbage leaves, making them perfect for dishes such as cabbage rolls.
- Napa Cabbage. Lighter green, frilly, loosely packed leaves make this a perfect cabbage for eating raw or using in quick stir-fries. This is also sometimes referred to as Chinese cabbage.
- Bok choy. Without a doubt my favorite variety of cabbage , it is also referred to as bok choy, bai cai or pak choi , or pokchoy. All these are words that mean delicious! You can get full grown bok choy or baby bok choy. These are the least “ cabbage tasting” of the cabbages listed above, but have a wonderful sweet and tender flavor that makes them perfect for stir-fries or quick braises in soups.
I know Brussels Sprouts look like little baby cabbages, but Brussels sprouts are not cabbages–they’re just in the same Brassica family I spoke of earlier.
Green cabbage, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, and napa cabbage.
How To Cut Cabbage
- Wash the cabbage head and discard any loose outer leaves that are either wilted or dirty.
- Whole or Part . Decide if you will be using the whole cabbage or a portion of it. If the latter, you may want to pluck off leaves from the outside of the cabbage to keep from cutting into the cabbage. I must admit I never do this, I just cut off a hunk of it, but YOU could 🙂 Luckily cabbages keep very well, and there are so many easy cabbage recipes to make that you can use this one head of cabbage in a variety of cabbage side dishes.
- Remove the core . There’s a hard, tough core in the middle of green and red cabbages. And if you’re unfamiliar with it, you may wonder how to core cabbage . Cut the cabbage into quarters, and then use your knife to cut out the core, and either compost or discard. These cabbage wedges make easy serving sizes at the dinner table as well.
- Chop or shred . You can either chop with your knife, use a mandolin to get thin shreds, use your food processor with the shredder attachment, or use this salad shooter which is my favorite, to get shredded cabbage quickly.
- Cook . Now you are ready to cook cabbage in a variety of different ways. Whether you will be cooking the cabbages in bacon grease, braising lightly with vegetable broth or chicken broth, adding a few onions to make simple cabbage and onions, putting into corned beef and cabbage, flavoring with soy sauce, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar, or just adding butter, salt, and pepper,
How To Cook Cabbage
There are many different ways to cook cabbage even without a recipe. Here are some of the most common ways to make cooked cabbage . Steamed Cabbage: Place shredded or chopped cabbage in a steamer or a perforated silicone basket , and steam for about 5-8 minutes until tender.
Boiled Cabbage
So how long to boil cabbage ? It depends on how small you chop the pieces. If you’re trying to boil a whole, uncut cabbage—don’t. As a result, by the time the inner leaves cook, the outer leaves will be grossly overdone. I suggest this:
- Chop the cabbage into 2-inch thick pieces.
- Place it into boiling liquid (water or broth)
- Boil. The cabbage will tender in 2-3 minutes.
- Drain like you would pasta, add a little butter, salt, and pepper.
You will be amazed at how wonderful this simple cabbage side dish can taste.
Braised Cabbage
Here are the keys to making it braised cabbage dishes great:
- Use very little liquid.
- Choose a pan with a very tight-fitting lid.
- A low and steady flame.
This allows the cabbage to release its own juices, and cook gently in a very flavorful, natural broth.
I absolutely LOVE braising cabbage in milk, but most people use water or broth. The milk version is much milder, the milk separates a little, and the resultant dish is pure heaven.
Fried Cabbage
This can be a bit of a misnomer as you’re not deep-frying cabbage. If you’re asking how to fry cabbage, you’re really thinking of how to make sauteed cabbage . These are really more sautéed cabbage recipes rather than fried cabbage per se. I digress. Here’s how:
- Cut cabbage into thick shreds.
- Pan fry in olive oil, butter, or bacon fat.
- Saute for 3-5 minutes after coated with the oil, butter, or fat of choice.
Just be sure to use a large skillet for this so you don’t end up steaming the cabbage.
Slow Cooker Cabbage
This is a tricky one. On the one hand, you can get amazing tender cabbage in a slow cooker. On the other hand, if you let it overcook, your house will smell of cabbage for days.
I suggest you make slow cooker cabbage if you will be home, and able to turn off the slow cooker within 3-4 hours or right as the cabbage is tender.
Baked Cabbage
To bake cabbage in the oven:
- Cut the cabbage into large wedges.
- Put the wedges in a tray, pour in oil, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook at 350F for 30 minutes.
- Turn the wedges halfway through.
- You may also choose to broil for the last few minutes if you want caramelized cabbage wedges.
- Add a sprinkle of lemon juice at the end and serve.
Grilled Cabbage
You can make cabbage on the grill two ways:
Wrapped In Foil
- Cut cabbage into wedges.
- Season the wedges.
- Wrap in foil.
- Place on the grill for 20-30 minutes or until tender.
Directly On The Grill
- Cut cabbage into wedges.
- Season cabbage and brush with butter or bacon grease.
- Grill for 20-30 minutes or until tender.
In my experience, this can yield uneven results, but YMMV.
Is Cabbage Keto Friendly?
Yes it is. A fourth of a medium head of cabbage—which is probably more than you’d eat in one sitting—has about 9 grams of net carbs (16 oz total carbs). With about 5 grams of fiber in that much cabbage, it also tends to be very filling which means it’s hard to overeat cabbage.
You can calculate macros for a keto diet here .
Yes indeed it will. Expect it to cook down to about half the volume of raw cabbage.
About 1 cup cooked
Cooked cabbage doesn’t freeze very well, unless it was already well-braised. But tender crisp cabbage doesn’t hold up to freezing.
Yes. However, it will likely overcook a little. I do it all the time, but it’s not crisp afterward.
About 6-7 cups
Yes, ¼ of a head of cabbage has only 9 gms of net carbs—and that’s a lot of cabbage.
Add carminative spices such as caraway seeds, Dill seeds, coriander seeds or fennel seed to the cabbage as it is cooking. You can also add dill, sage, marjoram, and basil, or whole cloves. Ginger and garlic are also considered carminative.
If you’re wondering how to cook cabbage in your pressure cooker there are a few tricks to getting instant pot cabbage to be tasty. 1. Do not cook for longer than a minute or two under pressure. 2. Use large pieces of cabbage. 3. Try pot-in-pot cooking.
Because it’s been overcooked. Seriously that’s the only reason why. When cooked properly there should be no lingering cabbage smell in your house. The strong smell many people associate with cabbage is due to hydrogen sulfide. But the good news is that you can only smell that rotten eggs like smell if the cabbage has been overcooked, or allowed to braise for too long. If you want to braise cabbage, I suggest you try an Instant Pot Cabbage recipe instead, to contain the odors in a closed environment.
More Of Our Best Cabbage Recipes
- Irish Colcannon – Mashed Potatoes with cabbage
- Ethiopian Cabbage with potatoes
- Indian Cabbage slaw
- Instant Pot German Red Cabbage
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Bacon
- Soup with Pork belly and Cabbage
Cabbage Main Dish Recipes
- Pork chops and cabbage in mustard cream sauce
- Instant Pot Quinoa Salad With Salmon and cabbage
- Keto Beef Shawarma Recipe
- Haluski Recipe –Pasta and cabbage cooked together.
- Instant Pot Chicken Bratwurst with Cabbage
- Ground Beef & Rice Shawarma
- Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage
- Instant Pot Low Carb Beef Shawarma
- Keto Kielbasa and Cabbage
Easy Bok Choy Recipes
- Yukgaejang • Keto Spicy Korean Beef Stew
- Air Fryer Keto Salmon Bok Choy Recipe
- Pressure Cooker Keto Bo-Ssäm Pork & Noodles
- Pressure Cooker Low Carb Szechuan Pork Soup
So whether you want to make coleslaw, fried cabbage, braised cabbage , German red cabbage, boiled cabbage, stir fry cabbage, red cabbage or bok choy, southern fried cabbage , or make cabbage in your Instant Pot with corned beef, or make slow cooker cabbage, you now have a variety of recipes, tips, and tricks for how to make cabbage .
Pin this post and share it with your friends, so you can come back to this when you are looking for a reference for how to cook cabbage with ease.
How To Cook Cabbage | 20+ Delectable Cabbage Recipes
Ingredients
- ▢ 4 cups Cabbage , Chopped
- ▢ 1 tbsp Butter
- ▢ 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
Steamed Cabbage
- Place 2 cups of water in a large pot.
- Put chopped cabbage in a steamer or a perforaed silicone basket, and place the steamer in the pot.
- Cover with a lid and steam for about 5-8 minutes until tender.
- Add seasonings and serve.
Boiling Cabbage
- Place water in a large saucepan, add salt and bring water to a boil.
- Add cabbage and cook for 3 minutes until tender crisp.
Braised Cabbage
- Melt butter in a sauce pan.
- turn the flame down to simmer.
- Place a tight-fitted lid on the pot and braise for 10-15 minutes until the cabbage is cooked through.
Fried Cabbage
- Heat a large, havy saucepan. To the hot saucepan, add 1/2 cup of chopped bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp. Remove bacon and set aside.
- Add the cabbage, salt, and pepper to the bacon fat, and stir to coat the cabbage with the seasonings.
- Cook stirring frequently on a relatively high flame so as to not steam the cabbage, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add bacon bits back in and serve.
Slow Cooker Cabbage
- Place cabbage, salt, pepper, butter, and 1 cup sliced onions in a slow cooker
- Add 1/4 cup bone broth, vegetable broth, or chicken broth to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours until the cabbage is tender.
Baked Cabbage
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Cut the cabbage into large wedges. Put the wedges in a baking tray, pour in 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the baking tray in the oven and cook for 30 minute. Half way through, flip the wedges over for even cooking.
- When the cabbage is tender, remove from the oven, sprinkle 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and serve.
Grilled Cabbage
- Turn on your grill to heat.
- Cut the cabbage into 4 large wedges. Create four large pieces of aluminum foil, large enough to hold and completely wrap each wedge.
- Place a pat of butter, some salt, and pepper on each wedge.
- Close up the aluminum packet and place to one side of the grill.
- Cook for 20-30 minutes until the wedges are tender.
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How To Cook Cabbage | 20+ Delectable Cabbage Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 cups Cabbage Chopped
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
Steamed Cabbage
- Place 2 cups of water in a large pot.
- Put chopped cabbage in a steamer or a perforaed silicone basket, and place the steamer in the pot.
- Cover with a lid and steam for about 5-8 minutes until tender.
- Add seasonings and serve.
Boiling Cabbage
- Place water in a large saucepan, add salt and bring water to a boil.
- Add cabbage and cook for 3 minutes until tender crisp.
Braised Cabbage
- Melt butter in a sauce pan.
- turn the flame down to simmer.
- Place a tight-fitted lid on the pot and braise for 10-15 minutes until the cabbage is cooked through.
Fried Cabbage
- Heat a large, havy saucepan. To the hot saucepan, add 1/2 cup of chopped bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp. Remove bacon and set aside.
- Add the cabbage, salt, and pepper to the bacon fat, and stir to coat the cabbage with the seasonings.
- Cook stirring frequently on a relatively high flame so as to not steam the cabbage, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add bacon bits back in and serve.
Slow Cooker Cabbage
- Place cabbage, salt, pepper, butter, and 1 cup sliced onions in a slow cooker
- Add 1/4 cup bone broth, vegetable broth, or chicken broth to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours until the cabbage is tender.
Baked Cabbage
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Cut the cabbage into large wedges. Put the wedges in a baking tray, pour in 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the baking tray in the oven and cook for 30 minute. Half way through, flip the wedges over for even cooking.
- When the cabbage is tender, remove from the oven, sprinkle 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and serve.
Grilled Cabbage
- Turn on your grill to heat.
- Cut the cabbage into 4 large wedges. Create four large pieces of aluminum foil, large enough to hold and completely wrap each wedge.
- Place a pat of butter, some salt, and pepper on each wedge.
- Close up the aluminum packet and place to one side of the grill.
- Cook for 20-30 minutes until the wedges are tender.
How To Cook Cabbage | 20+ Delectable Cabbage Recipes https://twosleevers.com/how-to-cook-cabbage/
Love to eat quinoa but hate how long it takes to cook on the stovetop? Here are some of the best Instant Pot quinoa recipes to get one of your favorites on the table faster! Learn how to cook quinoa in the Instant Pot for quick, easy and healthy meals.
Can You Cook Quinoa In An Instant Pot?
Not only can you cook quinoa in an Instant Pot, but you also should. It is incredibly fast and easy. No need to babysit it on the stovetop or worry about over agitating it while it cooks.
How Do You Cook Quinoa So It’s Not Bitter?
Even if your quinoa says that it is pre-rinsed on the box, always take time to thoroughly rinse it. Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin. This helps keeps bugs away from the plant. If you rinse it, it removes this natural coating and helps to remove any bitter taste.
What Can I Add To Quinoa For Flavor?
While I happen to love quinoa with just as few simple spices added in, I have several tips and tricks for making Instant Pot quinoa taste even better.
- Rinse - Always rinse your quinoa. This will help make it less bitter by removing the saponin (it’s natural coating).
- Spice it up - Add some fresh herbs spices to make it exciting.
- Add protein - Chicken and Seafood are great added to Instant Pot quinoa.
- Make it sweet - Quinoa is delicious as a sweet dish too. Make it as a pudding or oatmeal.
- Cook in broth - add depth to the flavor by cooking in broth instead of water.
Why Does My Qunioa Come Out Mushy?
There are a few reasons your quinoa can come out mushy after you cook it. Those reasons are:
- Overcooking
- Over stirring
- Too much water
All three of these things can leave you with less than perfectly cooked quinoa. The simple solution for this? Use your Instant Pot and one of these amazing recipes included in this post. It will guarantee perfectly cooked quinoa your whole family will love.
How To Cook Quinoa
How To Cook Quinoa (Instant Pot, Stovetop & Rice Cooker)
Learn just about every method on How To Cook Quinoa in one convenient place! Plus learn everything you could want to know about quinoa.
The Best Quinoa Salad Recipes
Edamame Salad With Quinoa
Enjoy a delightfully filling and refreshing Edamame Salad With Quinoa as a complete and nutritious meal! It’s full of plant protein and is easily made with your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Quinoa Salad With Salmon
This Instant Pot Quinoa Salad With Salmon is a delicious and nutritious meal that’s so very easy to make. Thanks to the Instant Pot, this recipe will be done before you know it!
Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa Vegetable Salad
Looking for an easy, one-pot lunch dish? This Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa Vegetable Salad is portable, healthy, vegan, and gluten-free, and perfect for summer.
Instant Pot Quinoa Salad with Feta
This quinoa salad is a total crowd pleaser, packed with veggies and feta
Thai Quinoa Edamame Salad
A Thai Quinoa Edamame Salad loaded with fresh vegetables and dressed with a delicious Thai lime vinaigrette. This salad is a meatless salad that makes a great side dish, but it also has enough protein from the edamame and quinoa that I served it as a main dish.
Quinoa Main Meals
Instant Pot Quinoa Taco Bowls
A low carb and easy to make recipe, Instant Pot Quinoa Taco Bowls are a delicious one-pot meal.
Cheesy Quinoa Porridge with Grana Padano and Prosciutto di San Daniele {Gluten Free}
Cheesy Quinoa Porridge is a creamy, cheesy dream of a dish made with melted Grana Padano cheese and topped with strips of Prosciutto di San Daniele. You will be hooked from your first mouthful.
Healthy 30-Minute Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken Recipe
In just 30 minutes, you can make this delicious, healthy Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken with quinoa. This one-pot meal is so flavorful, and the quinoa turns out yummy and fluffy when pressure cooked.
Quinoa and Foxtail Millet Pongal | Instant Pot Ven Pongal
Vegans can now enjoy the savory ven pongal - South Indian risotto with rice and lentils. Here is my delicious vegan and nut-free and gluten-free spicy pongal with quinoa and foxtail millet made in Instant Pot.
Spicy Channa Quinoa - Simple Sumptuous Cooking
Recipe for a spicy concoction that will leave you feeling full with just a small serving. That’s the power of the protein-packed grain Quinoa! What’s even better is that the recipe has Chana dal a.k.a Garbanzo beans to add to the protein content.
Mexican Quinoa
Easy healthy vegetarian quinoa recipe made with Mexican seasoning, beans and vegetables to create a deliciously healthy protein and fiber rich dish. This gluten-free and vegan Mexican quinoa is a one-pot-meal that is good for anytime at home or on-the-go meals as it tastes great at room temperature.
Instant Pot Quinoa with Sausage and Vegetables
This Instant Pot Quinoa with Sausage and Vegetables recipe uses the 1-minute method for cooking quinoa. It is loaded with vegetable and tastes amazing thanks to the sausage. A complete 1-pan meal.
Quinoa Side Dishes
Instant Pot Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
Instant Pot Quinoa Fried “Rice” tastes just like your favorite takeout meal, packed with veggies and can be on your table in under 15 minutes – less time than it takes to get delivery!
Instant Pot Quinoa with Coconut, Lime, and Cilantro
This nutty Instant Pot Quinoa is about to be your new go to side dish. It comes together in just minutes, and the Instant Pot does the rest of the work for you!
Instant Pot Quinoa Poha | Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf
Sweet, spicy, lemony and hearty, that’s how I would describe the flavors in this Quinoa Poha! Quinoa Poha is my healthy twist on a popular Indian vegetarian breakfast and snack recipe.
Quinoa Soup Recipes
Lentil Quinoa Soup – Instantpot
Lentil Quinoa Soup makes a hearty, quick and easy dinner that the whole family will love. This healthy lentil soup is the best vegetable soup you can whip up in under 30 minutes.
Quinoa Enchilada Soup
Quinoa Enchilada Soup is a healthy, protein packed one pot meal that is full of Mexican flavors!! It’s a vegetarian, vegan, gluten free recipe that is extremely easy to make and freezer friendly. Serve it with a range of toppings for everyone to customize their own!
Quinoa Desserts
Instant Pot Quinoa Pudding
This Quinoa Pudding, or Quinoa Kheer, is an Indian dessert made with quinoa, milk, and sweetened condensed milk for sweetness. This delicious Instant Pot Dessert is only four ingredients with optional add in’s that comes together in less than 15 minutes!
How Long Does Cooked Quinoa Last?
Quinoa is quite resilient after it is cooked. It must be refrigerated but once you do so, it will last up to a week. If you choose to freeze it instead, it can last anywhere from 8 to 12 months.
Want MoreInstant Pot Recipes?
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken is an easy 30-minute dinner and you can make rice on top of it, as the video shows.
- Pressure Cooker Rice and Dal is a great vegetarian rice dinner.
- This Lebanese Lentil and Rice dish is another great Vegetarian Instant Pot recipe .
- Instant Pot Indian Khichadi is comfort food in a bowl!
- Instant Pot Risotto with Shrimp is another one-pot comfort meal.
- Buffalo chicken casserole for the days you want low carb recipes
- You might also like low carb Chicken Biryani that uses riced cauliflower.
- Chicken and Mushrooms are a great combo.
- My kids love Instant Pot Pork Chops with Rice and Vegetables
- Zucchini Lasagna - You won’t even miss the pasta.
- Haluski Recipe - A wonderful cabbage and noodles recipe.
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
