Stewed Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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4.54 from 13 votes

45 minutes minutes

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This Stewed Cabbage recipe is a classic, humble old-world comfort food that’s also good for you! Super-versatile as a side dish and also as a main dish when meat or sausage is added or served over egg noodles. Great with this baked beans recipe!

Stewed Cabbage Recipe (1)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

This stewed cabbage side dish is a delicious way to elevate humble, healthful budget-friendly cabbage!

Cabbage is stewed with onions, carrots and tomatoes until tender and flavorful. A little red wine vinegar is added at the end for a little spark! The result is an easy, delicious and nutritious side dish!

This stewed cabbage recipe is:

  • Easy!
  • Healthy!
  • Budget-friendly!
  • Versatile! Great on its own as a tasty side dish or with sausage, over buttered egg noodles, rice or polenta.
Stewed Cabbage Recipe (2)

How to make Stewed Cabbage:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this stewed cabbage recipe along with how to prep the ingredients. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Stewed Cabbage Recipe (3)

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

  • Cabbage: Chopping a head of cabbage will be more cost-effective, but you can save time by buying a bag or two of coleslaw mix.
  • Paprika: Use either sweet or Hungarian paprika, which is a bit more pungent.
  • Chicken Broth: To make it vegan/vegetarian, use vegetable broth.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  • Gather and prep all the ingredients.
  • Heat the oil in a Dutch oven, a heavy large skillet or another deep pan.
  • Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften.
  • Add the carrot and cook for several minutes more.
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  • Add the garlic and paprika and cook briefly.
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  • Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring that to a boil.
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  • Start adding the cabbage by the handful, letting each addition wilt until you’ve added all the cabbage.
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  • Cover and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, depending on how cooked you like your cabbage.
  • Add a splash of red wine vinegar and season with salt and black pepper.
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That’s it! A simple yet healthful side dish or main dish with meat or sausage added. Delicious over buttery egg noodles, too!

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Chef Tip:

  • Paprika is considered a “fat-soluble” spice requiring fat for the flavor to “bloom.” Adding it directly to the hot fat early in the cooking process will help to disperse the flavor better throughout the entire dish.
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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is stewed cabbage good for you?

Very good! This stewed cabbage recipe has very little fat so it’s also low in calories. Because cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, it’s very good for you and has many of the same health benefits as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Cabbage is high in beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. Here’s more information from The Farmer’s Almanac: 5 Reasons to Eat Cabbage

Can you freeze cooked and stewed cabbage?

Absolutely! Cabbage has a dense texture that stays intact during the freezing process and the flavor is not affected at all.

Can you make stewed cabbage ahead of time?

Yes! Simply cook as directed, cool and refrigerate. Reheat in the microwave until heated through.

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Serve with:

  • Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze
  • Chili-Glazed Meatloaf
  • Boneless Short Rib Recipe (Mississippi-Style)
  • Cheesy Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
  • Perfect Roasted Potato Wedges
  • Roast pork
  • Roast chicken
Stewed Cabbage Recipe (12)
Stewed Cabbage Recipe (13)

More cabbage recipes you’re sure to love:

  • Cider Vinegar Braised Cabbage Wedges
  • Baked Cabbage
  • Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Mustard Vinaigrette
  • Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks Recipe

Get all my veggie side dishes at: Vegetable Side Dishes – From A Chef’s Kitchen

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Stewed Cabbage Recipe (14)

Stewed Cabbage Recipe (15)

Stewed Cabbage Recipe

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By: Carol | From A Chef’s Kitchen

Stewed Cabbage is a classic, humble old-world comfort food that's also good for you! Super-versatile as a side dish and as a main dish when meat or sausage is added or served over egg noodles.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Side Dishes – Vegetables

Cuisine East European

Servings 6 -8

Calories 102 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 medium onion - chopped
  • 1 medium carrot - chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic - chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 can (15-ounce) petite diced tomatoes - (regular diced is fine, too) undrained
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 medium head cabbage - cut into wedges then thinly sliced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar - to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley - optional

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large deep heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

  • Add the onion, reduce heat to medium-low and cook 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. (Do not brown.)

  • Add the carrot and cook 2-3 minutes.

  • Add the garlic and paprika and cook briefly, 15 seconds or so.

  • Add the broth, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil.

  • Add the cabbage in handfuls, stirring to wilt the cabbage until you have room for all the cabbage.

  • Cover with the lid slightly ajar. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20-30 minutes or to desired doneness, stirring several times.

  • Add the red wine vinegar, starting with 1 tablespoon. Add more as desired.

  • Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

  • Top with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

MAKE AHEAD: Cook as directed, cool and refrigerate. Reheat in the microwave until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 387mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2464IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

Stewed Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long do you boil cabbage to get it tender? ›

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add cabbage. (It's OK to crowd the pot because the cabbage will shrink!) Step 2Boil until tender, about 5 minutes for shredded cabbage and 10 minutes for wedges. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate to dry.

Why do I get gas after eating cabbage? ›

“Additionally, cruciferous vegetables—like cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts—contain raffinose, an indigestible sugar. As it's fermented by bacteria in the gut, gas is produced, which is why you may experience flatulence and discomfort after eating these foods.

How do you cook cabbage without making it soggy? ›

How To Steam Cabbage
  1. Cabbage wedges are recommended for this method of cabbage cooking. Insert a steamer basket inside a saucepan. ...
  2. Bring water to a boil, then add cabbage wedges to the steamer basket.
  3. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cabbage is crisp-tender.
Feb 15, 2024

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

How much water should you use to boil cabbage? ›

Get a pot of water up to nearly boiling. The pot should be large enough to hold the head of cabbage and enough water to nearly cover it.

How much water do you use when boiling cabbage? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 head cabbage.
  2. 8 -10 beef bouillon cubes.
  3. 8 -10 cups water.

Why do I feel so good after eating cabbage? ›

Improved immune system.

The vitamin C found in cabbage is good for your whole body. Not only is it an antioxidant that fights free radicals, but it also helps to fight heart disease, cancer, and even the common cold. Vitamin C also helps your body to absorb the iron it needs.

How do you cook cabbage so it's not gassy? ›

Boil it. In general, cooking makes vegetables easier to digest, which can help reduce gas. To retain the nutrients in the cabbage that would be lost when you drain the water, try cabbage soup or Mexican cabbage roll soup.

What happens if you eat too much cabbage? ›

An increase in goitrin and thiocyanates inhibits thyroid function and benzyl cyanide can result in potential adverse effects (dermal and respiratory manifestations). Eating cabbage in excess can result in abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and flatulence.

Why do you put vinegar in cabbage when boiling it? ›

From what I understand, when cabbage is cooked, the acid that the cabbage has evaporates, causing it to turn blue. To keep it red when cooking, try adding vinegar or lemon juice to retain the acid levels.

Can you overcook boiled cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

How do you know when cabbage is done cooking? ›

Simmer, covered, until the cabbage begins to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the cabbage carefully, and continue to simmer until the cabbage is tender, an additional 5 minutes. The cabbage is ready when a small paring knife inserted into the thickest part of the cabbage near the core slides through easily.

Why does cabbage smell when you cook it? ›

Prolonged cooking turns the sulfurous compounds into trisulfides — noxious-smelling compounds that have a tendency to linger in the kitchen. If your tap water is alkaline, red cabbage will react to it by turning a bluish color.

Why do you put cabbage in salt water? ›

The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt. Drain and dry the cabbage with paper towels, gently pressing to release excess water. Repeat with more paper towels as the water is absorbed.

What is not to be used with green vegetables when cooking? ›

Cream of tartar and baking soda are the components that make baking powder. Other acids used in cooking include vinegar and lemon juice, but these foods can greatly impact taste. Cooking green vegetables in an acid can cause the color to become dull green and the texture to become mushy.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

Do you have to wash cabbage before boiling? ›

Before you cook that cabbage, studies suggest you wash it before beginning to cook it.

References

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