Cabbage Stir Fry/ Poriyal, is a steamed, sautéed and mildly spiced common side dish that accompanies any South Indian meal. It is best served al-dente with a bit of crunch to it.
A quick and easy vegan recipe to prepare, delicious in taste and healthy too.
Table of Contents
What are the two commonly used cabbage varieties?
The two most commonly used varieties of cabbage used in cooking are the:
- Green/White Cabbage/Cannonball cabbage
- Red/Purple Cabbage
You can read all about the different varieties of Cabbages in our blogpost here.
Cabbage, a winter produce!
Did you know that cabbage is one of the versatile vegetable, easily affordable and readily available in winter? When cabbage is prepared and stored well it can last us, past the cold seasons.
Read all about cabbages and on How to choose, store and prepare cabbage in our blog post here.
It’s long shelf life (it can last several weeks in the refrigerator) and budget-friendly price tag have made it a popular ingredient in our home to use in dishes this season. Read all about, How to meal plan using Seasonal produce here.
You can grab our free templates for Weekly Meal Planning when you click here.
You will find ways to cook the different varieties of cabbage out there in the market.
Which cabbage is better, red or green?
While both red and green cabbage are good for you, red cabbage packs a more powerful nutritional profile and more overall antioxidants.The red/purple cabbage has a deeper and earthier flavor.Their flavor is sweeter and softer than green cabbage.
Red and purple cabbages take longer to mature, so these types are generally not as tender as green or green varieties
The deep red color in the red/purple cabbage indicates a richer supply of anthocyanins, which can help lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and obesity.
For example, red cabbage contains about 85 percent of the daily vitamin C our bodies need, while the green version provides 47 percent.
Is red cabbage healthy?
Cabbage is a very diabetic friendly food and is low calorie food It’s a boon for weight watchers because of its low calorie content.
Red/ Purple Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin B6. It is a good source of vitamin K and provides small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and zinc, which can help build and maintain healthy bones.
Red cabbage is high in fiber, making it easier to digest foods and keep your digestive system healthy.
In our cooking, we use both green/white cabbage, as well as red/purple cabbage.
Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe
Cabbage Stir-Fry|How to make?
10
minutes10
minutes169
kcal20
minutesIngredients
1 tbsp 1 Coconut Oil
1/4 tsp 1/4 Urad dhal
1/4 tsp 1/4 Chana dhal
1/2 tsp 1/2 Mustard
1 tbsp 1 Dry Red Chili Flakes
A sprig Curry Leaves
1 1 onion medium size
1/2 tsp 1/2 Salt
1/4 tsp 1/4 Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp 1/2 Garam Masala
Directions
- Steam the finely chopped cabbage for 6-7 minutes in a steamer. Remove and add salt and turmeric powder and set aside.
- In a wok add some coconut oil and warm it. To this add the urad and chana dhal along with mustard and do the seasoning.When the mustard splutters add the curry leaves along with the red chili flakes..
- Next add the finely chopped onion and saute it.
- To the above now add the steamed cabbage.
- Stir fry for a few minutes adding garam masala at the end and stirring it well to impart its flavor. Remove from flame and serve with rice or any meat preparation as a side.
You can choose to use green/white or the red/purple cabbage varieties for the above recipe.
How to cut cabbage for stir fry?
The key is to slice it thin, to make sure that the cabbage is tender and caramelizes in your stir fry.
Follow the steps below to learn how to do it.
- Slice off the stem end of the cabbage head, with a sharp knife, so that you have a sturdy base.
- Cut the cabbage in half starting from the top and working towards the bottom, cut end.
- Lay the cut side down on the cutting board so that its flat surface is touching the board.
- Cut each piece in half again.
- Turn each resulting quarter piece crosswise, and cut it into thin strips (about ⅛-inch thick). The strips are ready to be used in the stir fry!
Should I boil or steam cabbage?
Don’t boil the cabbage, simmer or steam it. Adding in a bit of vinegar or lemon juice while cooking, will greatly reduce the smell and keep it more crispier and fresh.
How long should I steam cabbage?
Cut the 1/2 head of cabbage into 4 wedges, core removed. they should be about 1 1/2″-2″ on the wide side. Place in a steamer, side by side, one cut side down. Steam for 6 minutes, flip carefully& steam for a further 6-8 minutes.
Can you eat raw cabbage?
In addition to being super healthy, cabbage is delicious.It is very easy to add in our diet.
It can be eaten raw or cooked and added to a wide variety of dishes like salads, soups, stews and slaws.
This versatile veggie can even be fermented and made into sauerkraut.
Tips to make Cabbage Stir Fry delicious?
- Adding a bit of oil or butter to the dish , after steaming the cabbage and transferring it to the wok, makes it more flavorful.
- Sprinkling fresh coconut gratings or adding it on top before serving, makes the cabbage stir fry/poriyal more delicious.
What to serve with Cabbage Stir Fry?
While this recipe is delicious served on its own, here are a few ideas of what you could serve with it:
- Rice. A side of brown, white, or cauliflower rice would be delicious with this stir fry.
- Noodles. Try it with brown rice noodles for a tasty, filling meal.
How do you use a lot of cabbage?
Cabbage can be cooked in countless ways: sliced and sautéed or stir-fried; cut into wedges and roasted, braised, blanched and used as a wrap for ground meats and rice; or wrapped around fish before steaming.
Different ways to use cabbage in your dishes
- Cabbage Stir Fry/Poriyal
- Cabbage Stir Fry when rolled in chapatis make for good Kathi rolls
- Pickling cabbages in recipes like Kimchi and Sauerkraut
- Cabbage Fritters/ Bhajiya
- Thai Spring Rolls
- Bok Choy Kootu
What meat goes with cabbage?
Cabbage is a nutritious vegetable that has many applications and goes well with everything from pork and beef to lamb, chicken, and other poultry.
Health benefits of cabbage
Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant-based foods like cabbage decreases the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and overall mortality. It can also help promote a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.
Cabbage does double detox duty. Its diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it. Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled.
A word of caution
Cabbage contains sulphurous compounds, as well as a sugar called raffinose that when digested can cause gas and bloating.
Some nutrients in cabbage juice have been shown to interact with certain medications.
Cabbage is high in vitamin K, which can affect the ability of blood thinners like warfarin to prevent blood clots
The Bottom Line
Cabbage is a seasonal produce, that is available in spring, fall and winter months.
Steaming cabbage to stir fry them like we did, is a common way to prepare cabbage.It is mighty tasty and will be a hit when you give it a try. If you give our cabbage stir fry/poriyal a try, please leave a comment below to let us know how it turned out for you! Your comments and ratings mean so much to us and will helpful others here
Pickling cabbages in recipes like Kimchi and Sauerkraut helps savor them in off season too!
This frilly deeply colored vegetable is mighty intriguing. How are you planning to use the cabbage in your cooking?
What other ways should we be cooking with cabbage? Do you have any suggestions? If you have any favorite ways to use it in addition to the one’s listed above, we would love to hear about them below in the comments section.