Cabbage is one of those unsung heroes in the kitchen.
Its a pretty bridesmaid that slipped out of the limelight.
Watch out ! It is making a comeback.

Fondly coined as the “Betty White of the produce aisle”.In colder months when fresh vegetables are hard to come by, this vegetable is one of the most affordable in the produce aisles .
It is part of the Brassica family, and is closely related to vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. It is high in vitamins (especially Vitamins C and K) and vitamin B6, which is crucial for keeping our immune system up and running.
It is an excellent source of many essential minerals like manganese. It is also rich in antioxidants and is a great body cleanser( think spring detox!)
Table of Contents
The different varieties :
There are a number of varieties including white, red, savoy and the Asian staple , Bok Choy
White Cabbage
White ones have firm, tightly-packed, solid heads of leaves. They are not actually white; the leaves are very pale green with patches of white around the veins. The outer leaves tend to be darker green then the ones inside which don’t get the direct sunlight. They mature late in the fall.

Best used in :
- Sauerkraut
- Coleslaw
- South Indian Stir Fry/Poriyal/Palya/Thoran
- Chutney
- Fritters/Pakoda/Bhajiya
- Rice/Pilaf/Pulav
- Kootu/Dhal
- Curry Sabzi
Green Cabbage
Best used in :
- Raw
- Stir fries
- Soups
- Braises
- Rolls ( using their whole leaves)
- Kootu/Dhal
- Rice/Pilaf/Pulav
- Manchurian
- Curry/Sabzi
Purple Cabbage :

Best used in :
Napa Cabbage
Napa is probably the most well-known, as it’s also available in non-Asian supermarkets. It’s a large vegetable with white stalks and pale green leaves arranged cruciferously. It is oblong in shape. Napa kind has a mild taste and has a soft texture when cooked.

Best used in :
- Korean Kimchi
- Asian soups
- Stir- Fries
- Eaten raw.
Savoy Cabbage
Savoy type is also known as curly kind. With ruffled, lacy, deeply ridged leaves, Savoy cabbages are perhaps the prettiest cabbages around. The leaves are more loosely layered and less tightly packed than green or red one, although its uses are similar.

Best used in :
- Soups
- Stir-Fries
Bok Choy

Best used in :
- Stir -Fries
- Soups
- Mixed vegetable dishes
Choy Sum
It looks similar to bok choy, but it is longer and slimmer. The leaves are tender enough to eat in a salad while the stems are crisp and watery.

Best used in :
- Noodle soups
- Stir- Fries
- Salads with oranges ( Chinese influenced)
- Vinaigrettes ( with Chinese Five spiced powder)
Cabbage Recipes on our site
Sharing below, links to my published posts on Cabbage and the recipes made using cabbage, for your interest :
- All about cabbage
- How to choose, store and prepare cabbage
- Stir fry/Poriyal
- Fritters/Pakoda Bhajiya
- Upkari/Poriyal
- Thai Spring Rolls
- Bok Choy Kootu
The Bottom Line
Do you have a favorite cabbage recipe ?
Try our recipes today and give us your feedback on how it turned out for you. Be it deep frying or with your air fryer, it sure will keep you warm and happy.A perfect rainy day or cold weather snack!
If you find our post helpful and got to try any of our recipes, do share your feedback on the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
Indian cooking is all about using the right spices in the right way. To make it easy for you ,we have our E-Book : A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Indian Spices, you can get it here.
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Thanks for all the info on the different cabbages. I used purple cabbage the most!
You are most welcome.Purple cabbages are more tastier when cooked.Enjoy!
I didn’t realize bok choy was a cabbage! Your posts are always informative, and I’ve made some of the recipes. So tasty!
Thank you, so much for your kind words. Yes, Bok Choy is a type of cabbage & makes for a delicious recipe when cooked.Enjoy!
How interesting. I realized I didn’t know the different varieties of cabbage!
Thank you. Glad to be of help!
I LOVE cabbage – I really had no idea there were so many way to prepare it! I just either have it steamed or for stuffed cabbage rolls! I need to try some of these!
Thank you. Yes are delicious and easy to prepare in so many different ways. Enjoy!
I love cabbage! Just made some homemade sauerkraut.
How wonderful. Make the best of the seasonal produce this month.
My husband is a big fan of cabbage. He loves making sauerkraut and kimshi.
How wonderful for you! Both are great recipes to enjoy cabbage in. Enjoy!
Cabbage is not something that agrees with me… but being half German, I love the occasional sauerkraut. Bok Choy I love, however, and we have often!
Lovely to hear different perspectives on this humble veggie.So many ways to cook and enjoy it!
This was very informative!!! I have not cooked with all of these kinds
Thank you. It’s never too late to try. You will love it.
This was informational as I really only knew of white cabbage and purple cabbage! I’m going to branch out to some of your other suggestions. Your pictures made them all look so yummy!
Thank you, that is so encouraging to hear that our post & pictures were helpful & informative. So appreciate you sharing with us, it means a lot. Hope you get to try some of our recipes & share your feedback with us here soon. Enjoy!