Cabbage De Jour

The cabbage is such a humble vegetable.  It has been a staple for hundreds of years.  Cabbage is abundantly grown, readily available, which makes it inexpensive at the grocery.

It has been called the poor man's food.  There is nothing lofty, or braggadocios about cabbage.  From it's muted shade of green to the light flavor of it's hardy leaves, there is more value to this vegetable than you may think.

When I was younger my mother made cabbage dishes that smelled up the house, and it sent my sisters and I running to the neighbors to fill up on treats so we wouldn't have to eat it.  From soups to main dishes, the simple cabbage has come a long way baby.

Here are two healthier recipes from my kitchen:

Recipe #1

Ingredients:

• 4-5 slices turkey bacon (optional)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 large head green cabbage, quartered and cut into 1 in. slices
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 large carrot, grated or thinly sliced
• 2 pre-cooked chicken breasts (optional)
• 1 medium zucchini, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• A pinch ground red pepper
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (optional)
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Additional optional ingredients:

• broccoli
• cauliflower
• asparagus
• mushrooms
• yellow squash
• water chestnuts
• bean sprouts
• bamboo shoots
• Chinese noodles

In a large, non-stick skillet fry the bacon (optional), then set bacon aside and drain the grease.  Heat the olive oil, add the onion and garlic.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to brown.

Add the cabbage, bell pepper, carrot, oregano, basil, black and red pepper and saute, stirring often, for about 5 min.  Turn up heat to high and add the remaining ingredients.  Cook stirring constantly until liquids are reduced.  Remove from heat, serve with rice crumbling the bacon over the top.

This makes a great main dish, or without the chicken a wonderful side dish.

Recipe #2

Ingredients:

• 1 large head green cabbage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 can low sodium diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 400.

In a large non-stick skillet brown the ground beef.  Drain well and add onions, bell pepper, garlic, oregano, and 1/2 tomatoes.

Meanwhile, fill a Dutch oven with water; bring to boiling.  Cut out the center vein from cabbage leaves, keeping each leaf in one piece.  Immerse leaves, 4 at a time, into the boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes or until leaves are limp.  Drain well.

Stir 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese into the ground beef mixture.  Place 1/4 cup of this mixture on each cabbage leaf then fold in sides.  Carefully roll each leaf, making sure the sides are caught in the roll.  Place each roll in a 2-quart square baking dish.  Spoon the remaining tomatoes on rolls.

Bake covered about 15 minutes or until heated through.  Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and serve.

"And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so."  Genesis 1:30

photo credit: TheDeliciousLife