Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (2024)

Easy and delicious buttered cabbage - great side dish.

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Have you ever tried boiled cabbage? If not, you're in for a real treat! This simple side dish is not only delicious, but it's also incredibly easy to make.

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It goes well with so many different main courses and most chicken, beef, and pork meals, but one of my favorite ways to serve this buttered cabbage side dish is with parmesan-crusted air fryer pork chops or my crispy friend chicken.

Green cabbage is usually a relatively inexpensive vegetable as well which is another plus but

Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (1)

I recently got two fresh heads and was going to make my Mom's sweet and sour cabbage but decided to change things up a bit and make this butter sautéed alternative instead. When this was all cooked up it tasted almost like pierogis or haluski without all the extra carbs and it's gluten-free which is a nice side dish my whole family can enjoy.

The full recipe with instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can find helpful tips and tricks within the blog post itself.

❔Common Questions

How to Prepare Cabbage for Cooking and Eating

Before eating cabbage whether raw or when prepping it for cooking you will want to wash it. This is an important step that cannot be skipped because worms and insects could be inside the head. The first step is to remove the thick outer cabbage leaves. Next, you'll cut it into wedges and rinse under cool running water in a colander. Further steps will depend on what you'll be making so be sure to refer to the instructions of the individual cabbage recipe.

Can You Freeze Cooked Cabbage?

Yes, you absolutely can. Allow the cooked cabbage to cool down then transfer to a zip-lock freezer bag. I like to use these rack holders to hold my bags for hands-free freezer meal prep. They make this step so much easier. Once the boiled cabbage is in the bag, gently remove the air, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 5 months.

Can This Be Made in a Pressure Cooker?

Yes, you can make Instant Pot Buttered Cabbage easily. Shredded Cabbage takes approximately 6 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker. Please note that it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety guidelines at all times to prevent the risk of a pressure cooker blow up. I've included the details in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Instant Pot Cabbage?

Shredded Cabbage takes approximately 6 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker.

What Else Can I Add to Jazz This Up a Bit?

In the sauté phase, you can add bacon, chopped onion, and/or fresh garlic.

Do You Have a Corned Beef Recipe That Would Pair Well With This Recipe?

I have a delicious keto corned beef and cabbage recipe that you can find here.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions for making Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage, rinse in cool water, remove the core and thenchop.
  2. Add butter and olive oil to pot and allow the butter to melt over low heat.
  3. Add the shredded cabbage, salt, and black pepper to the above mixture and cover with water. Vegetable or chicken broth can be substituted for the water to add another dimension of flavor to this dish.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir occasionally.
  5. Once the water begins to boil lower heat and cover with a lid.
  6. Simmer for 15 minutes until the steamed cabbage is tender stirring occasionally.

Looking for More Side Dish Recipes?

  • Mom's Sweet and Sour Cabbage
  • Hot Bacon Green Beans and Potatoes
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (3)

💭Top tip

You'll want to make extra of this to save for a treat the next day. I think it's almost better as a leftover.

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Buttered Cabbage

Easy and delicious buttered cabbage - great side dish.

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Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:30 minutes mins

Total Time:40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds green cabbage 1 large head
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Remove outer leaves, rinse in cool water, remove the core, and then chop.

Stove Top Directions

  • Add butter and olive oil to pot and allow the butter to melt over low heat.

  • Add the shredded cabbage, salt, and black pepper to the above mixture and cover with water. Vegetable or chicken broth can be substituted for the water to add another dimension of flavor to this dish.

  • Bring to boil over medium-high heat and stir occasionally.

  • Once the water begins to boil, lower heat and cover with a lid.

  • Simmer for 15 minutes until the steamed cabbage is tender stirring occasionally.

Instant Pot Directions

  • Place water (or broth) and butter into Instant Pot.

  • Add shredded cabbage.

  • Close lid properly and make sure valve is set to "sealing".

  • Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.

  • Once done, allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes.

  • After 5 minutes press Cancel and use a SAFE quick release method (refer to manufacturer's instructions/user manual).

  • Once all pressure is safely released, remove lid.

  • Stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Slow Cooker Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to slow cooker.

  • Cook on Low setting for 5 - 6 hours stirring occasionally until tender.

Notes

Make a little extra to have some the next day. I think it tastes better after everything has had a chance to mingle.

Recommended equipment and tools:

Pot - a good large pot with a lid. I prefer All-Clad but there are other quality brands as well.

Slotted Spoon

Instant Pot - This is the one I have and use often

Serving Bowl - something pretty to serve up your creation!

As with any of my recipes, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 81kcal

Author: Mary Beth

Cost: $3.00

Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (5)
Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (6)

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Easy and Delicious Boiled Cabbage Recipe - The How-To Home (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to boil cabbage? ›

Step 1Cut cabbage into wedges or slice it thin. 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.

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.

How do you cut cabbage to boil it? ›

Halve the cabbage—After drying, stand the cabbage on its stem end on a cutting board and cut it in half. Cut wedges—Lay a cabbage half down on a cut side and slice it into two, three, or four equal wedges, making sure each cut goes through the core to keep the wedge intact.

What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

You don't add baking soda. 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 do you use when boiling cabbage? ›

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

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.

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.

Do you have to wash cabbage before boiling? ›

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

What are the benefits of boiled cabbage? ›

Cabbage is highly nutritious and rich in vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin K. Some research suggests that it may have health benefits that include supporting digestion and heart health, among others.

What happens when you soak cabbage in salt water? ›

Quite unlike the ice-water cabbage, salted cabbage shreds lost most of its liquid while sitting in the salt, leaving the cabbage pickle-crisp. In addition to having less water in it, the cabbage took on more of the dressing's flavors, and unlike stiff, icy shreds, this limp cabbage was also easier to eat.

How do you boil cabbage without it smelling? ›

With the lid already on the pot (to avoid filling the kitchen with the odor), you can put a coffee cup with some white vinegar inside near the opening of the lid. If you don't want to add it directly to the boiling water, place a slice of bread on the lid near the steam.

What takes the gas out of cabbage? ›

To reduce the likelihood of experiencing gas after eating cabbage, consider cooking it thoroughly. This can help break down the fibers and make it easier to digest. Additionally, try adding caraway seeds or fennel seeds to your cabbage dishes, as these spices are known to help reduce gas.

What happens when you mix cabbage juice and lemon juice? ›

Substances such as lemon juice and vinegar turn the cabbage juice red because they are acidic. Ammonia turns the cabbage juice into a blue/green color because it is a base, a material that tastes bitter and makes an acid neutral. Water does nothing, as it is a neutral.

How to cook cabbage to reduce flatulence? ›

A few whole cloves added to the boiling water forcabbage impart a delicately complementary flavor and aroma and may help to prevent gas during digestion. Other sweet spices that may be carminative include allspice, cinnamon and ginger.

Is Boiling cabbage good for you? ›

It's Packed With Nutrients

Half a cup of cooked cabbage has about a third the vitamin C you need for the day. It also gives you doses of fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A and K, and more.

Is it healthy to boil cabbage? ›

A cup of boiled cabbage has just 33 calories. It is low in fat and high in fiber. Furthermore, cabbage increases excretion and detoxification, which speeds weight reduction and improves liver health.

Can you boil cabbage and drink the water? ›

My granny used to drink buckets of cabbage water, and her generation used it as a cure-all for digestive health. Cabbage is full of fibre and water. So it's a pretty simple explanation as to why it's good to get the bowels moving.

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