Being Proactive with Purple Cabbage

Purple cabbage is a great source of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that help protect against cellular damage. Its antioxidants include vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoid antioxidants, such as anthocyanin’s and kaempferol. In fact, it often contains higher amounts of these than green cabbage. While it is also addressed as red cabbage, Red cabbage is a nutrient-rich, cruciferous, or Brassica vegetable that's related to cauliflower and kale. It's sometimes called purple cabbage since its leaves are a dark purple-reddish color. Red cabbage typically is a little smaller and denser than green cabbage, and has a more peppery taste.

Some people wonder what is so special about this cabbage? And the very prompt reply to that implies that It has an outstanding nutrient profile and is especially high in vitamins C and K. In addition, eating cabbage may even help lower the risk of certain diseases, improve digestion and combat inflammation. Plus, cabbage makes a tasty and inexpensive addition to a number of recipes, while The purple color in red cabbage comes from a class of pigment molecules called anthocyanin’s. It turns out that anthocyanin’s are found in flower petals, leaves (it makes them turn red in the fall!) and some fruits such as blueberries.

Purple cabbage can also be roasted or sautéed with meats or beans, or it can be shredded and used as a nutrient-rich garnish for soups, salads, and warm dishes. It also offers an antioxidant-rich and visually appealing alternative to green cabbage in coleslaw or sauerkraut, or it can be fermented to make kimchi. While it remains easy to adapt into our diets and cooking in a number of ways Red cabbage is easy to incorporate into your diet. This versatile vegetable can be added to soups, stews, salads, and coleslaw. It's delicious raw, steamed, sautéed, and fermented. It retains the most nutrients when it's eaten raw, but is still highly nutritious when cooked.

Here are a few health benefits of Purple Cabbage:

1. Purple cabbage is regarded as good for our skin and it also protects us against radiation.

2. Purple cabbage is also good for the brain health and also takes good care of our bone health and wellness, hence it should be consumed.

3.Purple cabbage is helps in weight loss, in digestion as well. It is also considered beneficial since it regulates our blood pressure.

4.Purple cabbage is also good for us since it has a good quantity of water present in it, besides it also prevents constipation and also prevents acne.

5.Purple cabbage is also a good detoxifying ingredient in addition to that it is also good for eye health and vision.

Here are a few of my favorite ways with Purple Cabbage:

Recipe-1] VEGGIE SPROUT CABBAGE ROLLS

Ingredients:

Purple / red cabbage leaves- 150- 200 gms, cleaned.

For the stuffing:

Oil-2 tsp

Butter-1 tsp

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped

Onion-1 small chopped

Beansprouts-1 cup, steamed

Mushrooms- 1 cup, sliced

Boiled and crushed sweet corn-1/4 cup

Salt and pepper to taste

Mixed herbs-1/4 tsp

Chili flakes-1/4 tsp

Tomato sauce- 2-3 tsp

Grated cheese- 2-3 tbsp.

Chopped parsley-2-3 tsp

Schezuan sauce- 2-3 tsp

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the cabbage rolls.

2. Clean up the leaves, sort them out and wash them well, place them in a hot water steamer for 2-3 mins and remove, place them in chilled water, since we may need to trim the leaves a little before rolling.

3. Once the ingredients for the stuffing are ready, heat oil and butter in a pan saute the garlic, onions for a few seconds, add in the mushrooms, corn, beansprouts, saute them add in salt, pepper, herbs, chili flakes, cook for 2 mins.

4. Add in the tomato sauce, schezuan sauce, and cook the mixture for 2-3 mins, turn off add in the parsley, cheese and mix lightly. Place the stuffing in between the steamed cabbage rolls, secure them well and roll up, place them back into the steamer and steam them for 2-3 mins more.

5. Serve the stuffed purple cabbage leaves with an assortment of dips, sauces, chutneys, spreads etc and enjoy it like a starter/ snack.

Recipe-2] VITAMIN ENRICHED CABBAGE TOSSED SALAD

Ingredients:

For the base of the salad:

Iceberg lettuce/ Lollorosso lettuce/ cos lettuce- 2 cups

For the body of the dressing:

Purple cabbage-1 cup shredded

Orange segments- ½ cup cleaned

Apple/ pears- ½ cup cubed

California grapes- ½ cup

Shallots- 4-5 no, sliced

Boiled sweet potato cubes- ½ cup

For the dressing of the salad:

Olive oil- 2-3 tbsp.

Mustard paste-1 tsp

Honey-1 tsp

Chaat masala- ¼ tsp

Lime juice- 2 tbsp.

Fresh squeeze of orange-1/4 cup

Fresh parsley- 2 tsp chopped

Crushed black pepper-1/2 tsp

Flax seeds/ pumpkin seeds – 1 tsp

For the garnish of the salad:

Almond flakes- 2-3 tsp

Cashews- 2-3 tsp 

Fresh basil leaves- -5-6 no

Microgreens- ¼ cup

Cherry tomatoes-3-4 no cut 1 x 2

Pineapple cubes- ½ cup

Method:

1. Prepare all the four parts of the salad and keep them chilled.

2. Arrange the bed of lettuce leaves of your choice on a serving plate/ platter and proceed with the next step.

3. In a mixing jar combine together the ingredients for the dressing as listed and give it a nice shake and stir well.

4. Just before serving toss the salad and dressing together and place it on the base of the lettuce leaves, decide the garnish and do so appropriately, at times we also use chopped dates, walnuts, pine nuts etc as well to garnish the salad, for non-veg we can also add shredded boiled chicken or chicken sausages etc.

Recipe-3] BEAN AND CABBAGE TACO SHELLS

Ingredients

For the taco filling:

Purple cabbage-150 gms, shredded

Bean sprouts-1/4 cup

Baked beans/ chickpeas/ black eyed beans/peas- 1 cup cooked

Salt and pepper to taste

For non-veg filling:

Boiled shredded chicken/ roast chicken with makhani salsa etc

For veg filling options:

Capsicum/ paneer tikka/ paneer bhurji/ mix veggies tossed in cheesy white sauce etc

For the sauces to go along in the tacos:

Mexican peri chili salsa sauce/ pesto peri spice spread/ hung curd and re-fried bean hummus in the form of a spread.

For the toppings and garnishes:

Grated cheese/ fresh herbs like parsley/thyme/ coriander etc

Jalapeno peppers/ olives – black /green etc can be added.

Method:

1. Prepare and assemble all the ingredients for the taco shells.

2. This recipe works well If we do like a live counter or a live taco counter where the guests can choose between the assortment of fillings, spreads, sauce etc.

3. Add in the purple cabbage shreds towards the end and place an assortment of garnishes of your own choice and color.

Recipe-4] QUINOA CABBAGE BOWL

Ingredients:

Purple cabbage-150gms, cut into small dices / cubes 

For cooking the cabbage bowl:

Oil-2 tsp 

Butter-2 tsp

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped

Ginger – 1 tsp chopped

Chilies- 2-3 tsp

Onion-1 small chopped

Quinoa- 1 cup cooked

Green peas-1/4 cup cooked

Cauliflower- 500 gms, cleaned, blanched

Purple cabbage-1 cup 

Sweet corn-1/2 cup boiled

Salt and pepper to taste

Mixed herbs-1/4 tsp

Chili flakes-1 tsp chopped

Peanut butter-2 tsp

Soy sauce-2 tsp

Spring onion greens- 2-3 tbsp.

For the dressing:

Olive oil-2 to tsp

White vinegar-2 tsp

Lime juice-2 tsp

Roasted crushed cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

Mint leaves- 10-12 no

Cheese- 2-3 tsp grated or use cream cheese

For non-veg: add chopped salami, bacon, chicken/ roast chicken pieces, chicken tikka etc.

For the garnishing:

Assorted nuts/ assorted seeds/ micro- greens/ jalapeno/ olives use.

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the one-meal dish.

2. To cook up the cabbage bowl, heat oil and butter in a pan, lightly saute the ingredients one by one, can add in the green peas and cauliflower, followed by any other choice of ingredients as included in the recipe.

3. Give it all a nice mix, add in the seasonings, herbs, chili as per taste, and cook for 8-10 mins on a low flame, add a little stock or water and cook it all up well. 

4. Add in the cooked quinoa and cabbage pieces, peanut butter and soya sauce, chili sauce if desired and toss it all up well. Add in parsley/coriander leaves/mint leaves etc and add nuts/ seeds for garnish and serve warm, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice, add cherry tomatoes and relish this healthy bowl.

Recipe-5] QUICK TOSSED CABBAGE AND APPLE

Ingredients:

Purple cabbage-150 gms, shredded

Green apple/red apple- 1 -2 med sized, small dices

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil-2 tsp

Butter-1 tsp

Garlic-1 tsp chopped

Celery- 2-3 tbsp. chopped

Onion-1 small chopped

Parsley-2 tsp chopped

Sugar- 1 tsp

White wine-2 tsp

White vinegar-1 tsp

Raisins-2-3 tsp

Walnuts-2-3 tbsp. sliced

Additional ingredients for non-veg:  use bacon, sausages, salami cubes etc in the same recipe as well for a varied flavor.

Method:

1. Assemble and prepare all the ingredients for the recipe.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan, quickly add in the garlic, onions, celery and cook for 1 min.

3. Add in the apples and cabbage and cook in the mixture for 2-3 mins, add in the sugar, salt, pepper, white wine/ vinegar/

4. Give it all a nice toss and check for a balanced taste and flavor in the brand.

5. This tossed cabbage and apple recipe can be enjoyed as a relish/pickle format as well and can be enjoyed in a number of ways.

Recipe-6] RIZO CHICKEN CABBAGE CUPS

Ingredients:

Purple cabbage cups- 150-200 gms

For the stuffing:

Oil- 2 tsp 

Butter-1 tsp

Garlic- 1 tsp chopped

Onion-1 small chopped

Boiled cooked white/brown rice-1 cup

Cooked/boiled chicken-1/2 cup diced

Mushrooms-1/2 cup sliced

Green peas-1/4 cup

Salt and pepper to taste

Mixed herbs-1/4 tsp

Chili flakes-1/4 tsp

Cheese-2-3 tbsp. grated

Mayonnaise sauce-1/2 cup

Tomato sauce-1/4 cup

Tabasco/ Capsico- 1 -2 tsp

Soya keema/ soya chunks- ½ cup 

Paneer /tofu- ½ cup

Parsley/coriander/mint- ¼ cup

Lime juice—2-3 tbsp.

Assorted nuts- 2-3 tsp

Assorted seeds- 2-3 tsp

Method:

1. Assemble all the ingredients for the recipe as listed above.

2. Prepare the cabbage leaves, place them in ice cold water to maintain their texture.

3. To prepare the filling, heat oil and butter in a pan, saute the garlic, onions, add in the mushrooms, peas, chicken and rice and any other choice of ingredients as you feel like.

4. Add in the seasonings, herbs, chili flakes, sauces to taste and give it a nice mix.

5. Cook the mixture on a medium to low flame for 3-4 mins, turn off the flame and add in the grated cheese and mix.

6. Just before serving, remove the cabbage leaves from the water, pat dry them one by one and spoon in the filling into the cups while still warm.

7. Garnish the cabbage cups with assorted nuts/seeds/ greens and arrange them on a serving platter/plates.

Serve warm/chilled.