For a long time, it was considered "poor people's food," but those days are long gone. Cabbage is making a big comeback – and rightly so! It's not only robust and inexpensive, but also one of the healthiest vegetables our local fields have to offer. Find out here why cabbage deserves much more attention in your kitchen.
What you should know about cabbage
Cabbage is the epitome of seasonal, regional vegetables. Its main season extends from September to March. During these months, you can get it fresh from the field, full of nutrients and flavor.
Thanks to its firm structure, it stores excellently, making it the perfect winter vegetable. Whether white cabbage, red cabbage, or savoy cabbage – they all share the fantastic health benefits that we will now look at in more detail.
Nutrients & Effects
Look at the graphic above – cabbage is a real powerhouse! Particularly exciting are the cancer-fighting mustard oils it contains, which are responsible for its typical taste and protect your cells.
It also has anti-inflammatory effects and helps your body maintain its acid-base balance, as it is metabolized as alkaline. If you want to lose weight, you'll be happy: cabbage is extremely satiating but has hardly any calories. A real slimming food for winter!
Taste & Consistency
Raw, cabbage is crisp and firm; cooked, it becomes buttery soft and develops a pleasant sweetness. One point that should not be concealed: cabbage has a strong inherent smell that can fill the kitchen when cooked.
There's also a trick for digestibility: while it can cause flatulence when raw, it is significantly less gas-producing when cooked. Spices like caraway or fennel also help to make it more digestible.
Preparation with kitchen appliances
Cabbage is more versatile than you might think. Your kitchen appliances help you prepare it in modern and delicious ways:
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Slow Juicer / Juicer: As your graphic already indicates: cabbage is good for juicing! Fresh cabbage juice is an old home remedy for the stomach. It's best to mix it with apple or carrot in the slow juicer to soften the taste.
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Air Fryer: Forget soggy vegetables. Cut the cabbage into thick slices ("cabbage steaks"), brush them with oil and spices, and put them in the air fryer. The edges will be wonderfully crispy, and the inside will remain juicy.
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Blender: For a creamy cabbage soup or a fine coleslaw, the blender is your friend. It chops the tough leaves in seconds, saving you the tedious chopping.
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Bread Maker: Hearty bread with bacon and cabbage or a juicy sauerkraut bread can be easily made in the bread maker. The cabbage keeps the dough fresh and moist for a long time.
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Ice Cube Tray: Since you often only need a little cabbage juice for medicinal purposes or seasoning, you can perfectly freeze the freshly squeezed juice in your ice cube tray and remove it in portions.
Shopping & Storage
When buying, make sure the cabbage head feels firm and heavy. The outer leaves should be crisp and show no wilted spots.
Cabbage is a storage marvel. In a cool cellar or the refrigerator's vegetable drawer, a whole head often keeps for several weeks. If cut, you should cover the cut surface with film to prevent it from drying out and losing vitamin C.
Use in the kitchen
Cabbage can be more than just a side dish:
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Classic: In cabbage rolls or as a hearty stew, it warms you from the inside.
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International: As kimchi (fermented napa cabbage) or in a wok with soy sauce.
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Raw food: Thinly sliced as a salad, which becomes softer and more digestible by kneading it for a long time with your hands.
Fun Facts
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Vitamin C powerhouse: White cabbage often contains as much or even more vitamin C than citrus fruits. That's why sauerkraut used to protect sailors from scurvy.
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Heavyweight: The heaviest cabbage head ever harvested weighed over 60 kilograms – enough for a lot of cabbage rolls!
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Cabbage wraps: Applied externally, cabbage leaves are considered an old home remedy. A wrap is said to relieve joint pain.
Conclusion
Cabbage is the unsung hero of winter. It is satiating, alkaline, and provides valuable cancer-fighting mustard oils. Even if it can cause flatulence when raw, the cooked version or fresh juice from the slow juicer offers health benefits you shouldn't miss out on.
