Tiffany Haney
Steaming cabbage is a quick and easy way to prepare this versatile vegetable. It's a simple dish that can be used as a side or as an ingredient in a variety of recipes, such as coleslaw or cabbage rolls. The gentle cooking method enhances the flavour of the cabbage and, when seasoned with butter, salt, pepper and garlic, it becomes a tasty delicacy. This method also preserves the nutrients in the cabbage, which can be lost when boiling.
How to steam cabbage in a pan
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cabbage | Green, red, savoy, or napa cabbage |
| Cutting style | Wedges, shredded, or chopped |
| Amount of water | 1/4-inch, 1-2 tablespoons, or 1 inch of water |
| Additional ingredients | Butter, salt, pepper, garlic, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, turmeric, mustard seeds, cumin, red chillies, garam masala, curry leaves, ginger, red chilli powder |
| Cooking time | 3-10 minutes |
| Cooking temperature | Medium heat |
| Equipment | Pan, skillet, or steamer basket |
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare cabbage for steaming
To prepare cabbage for steaming, start by choosing a fresh, whole head of cabbage. Look for tight, firm, heavy heads with a few loose outer leaves and no discolouration or damage. Green cabbage is the most common variety, but you can also use red cabbage, savoy, or napa cabbage.
When you're ready to cook, use a sharp knife to cut the cabbage. Start by slicing off a bit from the root stem end to create a flat side that can rest on your cutting board. Then, cut the cabbage in half down the middle, and then halve each side lengthwise once more to create four wedges. Remove the core and discard it.
From here, you can either steam the wedges or shred the cabbage. For wedges, you'll want to steam them for about 6 minutes, flip them, and then steam for another 6-8 minutes. If you prefer a softer steamed cabbage, shred the wedges into strips before steaming. This ensures that all the cabbage softens during steaming. Shredded cabbage will steam faster, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
You can also add flavourings to the cabbage before steaming. For a simple option, toss the cabbage with butter, salt, and pepper. You can also experiment with other seasonings, such as caraway seeds, red pepper flakes, turmeric, or cumin. If you want to add extra flavour to the steaming process, you can add a bit of water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to the bottom of the pan.
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How to steam cabbage wedges
Steaming cabbage is a simple and quick way to prepare this vegetable, which can be served as a side dish or as part of a larger meal. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam cabbage wedges in a pan:
Preparing the Cabbage:
First, select a fresh, whole cabbage with tight, firm, heavy heads and minimal discolouration. Before cutting, rinse the cabbage under running water. Using a sharp knife, cut a flat surface at the root end of the cabbage so that it can sit flat on a cutting board. Then, cut the cabbage in half through the root, and then cut each half lengthwise once more to get four wedges. Remove the core from each wedge and discard it.
Steaming the Cabbage:
Add about 1 inch of water to the bottom of a large pot or pan and bring it to a boil over high heat. You can also add some chicken broth and spices like bay leaves, cumin, or garam masala to the water for extra flavour. Once the water is boiling, carefully place the cabbage wedges in a steamer basket and put the basket into the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and let the cabbage steam for 7-10 minutes. For wedges, it is recommended to steam for 9-10 minutes.
Finishing and Serving:
After steaming, carefully remove the cabbage wedges from the steamer basket and place them on a serving dish. You can season the wedges with butter, salt, and pepper to taste, or use other seasonings like garlic powder, caraway seeds, or red pepper flakes. For an Indian-style dish, you can temper the cabbage by heating oil in a pan with mustard seeds, cumin, and red chillies, then adding garlic and other spices before tossing the steamed cabbage in this mixture.
Your steamed cabbage wedges are now ready to be served! Enjoy them as a simple side dish or as part of a heartier meal.
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How to steam shredded cabbage
Steaming shredded cabbage is a quick and easy way to prepare this vegetable. It is a gentle cooking method that enhances the flavour of the cabbage.
To begin, you will need a head of cabbage. Any variety of cabbage can be used, such as green, red, savoy or napa cabbage. First, remove any loose outer leaves and check for any discolouration or damage. Next, use a sharp knife to cut off a little bit of the root stem end to create a flat side. Place the cabbage flat side down and cut it in half, then halve each side lengthwise to get four wedges. Cut out the core from each wedge and discard it. Shred the cabbage wedges into strips that are about 1/2 inch wide. Try to make the pieces as evenly sized as possible so that they cook evenly.
Now, you are ready to steam the cabbage. You can use a steamer basket or a large pot. If using a steamer basket, place the shredded cabbage in the basket and put the basket in a large pot with about an inch of water at the bottom. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then cover the pot and steam the cabbage for 7 to 8 minutes. If you are not using a steamer basket, you can place the shredded cabbage directly in a large pot with about 1/4 inch of water at the bottom. Turn the heat to medium-high and cover the pot. When the cabbage starts to steam, lower the heat to medium and cook for about 5 minutes.
After steaming, you can season the cabbage with butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, caraway seeds, or other spices. For an Indian-style dish, you can temper the cabbage by heating oil in a pan and adding mustard seeds, cumin, red chillies, hing, curry leaves, ginger, garlic, red chilli powder, and garam masala. Toss the steamed cabbage with the tempering and serve.
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Seasoning and flavouring steamed cabbage
The seasonings for steamed cabbage are endless, but some common additions include butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add red pepper flakes, dried parsley, and black pepper for extra flavour. For an Asian flavour, you can add soy sauce and sesame oil.
If you want to add a salty, savoury kick to your steamed cabbage, you can sprinkle bacon bits on top. For an acidic tang, add a splash of white vinegar or apple cider.
When it comes to spices, you can add cumin, turmeric, curry, coriander, cinnamon, or dill. For an Indian-style dish, you can temper the cabbage with ghee or oil and add basic spices like cumin and garam masala.
If you want to add an egg to your dish, you can scramble it in the tempering before adding the steamed cabbage. You can also melt some cheese on top for added richness.
For a simple steamed cabbage dish, you can season it with salt and pepper to taste and add butter for a buttery flavour. You can also use salted or unsalted butter and adjust the saltiness accordingly.
Finally, you can steam cabbage with other vegetables like potatoes, peas, carrots, or sweet potatoes. You can also add chicken broth to the pan for extra flavour.
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How to steam cabbage in a skillet
Steaming cabbage is a simple and quick way to cook this vegetable, and it is a great side dish to many meals. It is also a healthy cooking method, as steaming preserves the nutrients in the cabbage.
To steam cabbage in a skillet, first, cut the cabbage. You can either cut it into wedges, or shred it. If you want more crunch, cut the cabbage into wedges. If you prefer softer cabbage, shred it before steaming. To cut the wedges, slice a head of cabbage into four quarters, then cut out the core and discard it. Then, cut each quarter in half to make eight wedges. To shred the cabbage, cut the quarters into 0.5-inch strips.
Next, arrange the cabbage in a single layer in a large skillet. Add just enough water or broth to cover the bottom of the pan (about 0.25-inch or 1-2 tablespoons). You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water for extra flavour. Cover the skillet with a lid and turn the heat to medium-high. When the cabbage starts to steam, which should take about a minute, lower the heat to medium. Steam the cabbage, covered, for about 5 minutes.
Then, uncover the skillet and stir the cabbage. Continue cooking until the cabbage is tender and the water has evaporated, which should take about 2 minutes. If there is still too much water in the pan, drain the cabbage in a colander and return it to the skillet.
Finally, you can add some butter, garlic, salt, and black pepper, stirring to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring, until the butter has melted. You can also add some dried parsley and red pepper flakes to garnish.
There are many ways to season steamed cabbage, and you can get creative with the flavours. You can also steam other vegetables in the same way, and add them to the skillet if you want a variety.
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Frequently asked questions
Steam the cabbage for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how soft you want it.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the pan. If you are steaming wedges of cabbage, you may need to add a little more water, about 1 inch to the bottom of the pan.
You can steam wedges of cabbage or shredded cabbage. For wedges, cut the cabbage into quarters, then cut out the core and cut each quarter in half. For shredded cabbage, slice the quarters of cabbage into strips.
You can season steamed cabbage with butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, or a combination of these. You can also add spices like cumin and garam masala, or herbs like thyme and parsley.
