Savor every bite of this crunchy, filling, and flavorful Jamaican-style Steamed Cabbage. Made with cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and traditional Caribbean seasonings, this dish serves as a tasty side dish.
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If you're looking for a flavourful Caribbean side dish, this vibrant steamed cabbage is a great pick. It's packed with crunchy cabbage, sweet carrots, and juicy red bell peppers, all seasoned to perfection with salt, thyme, black pepper, and all-purpose seasoning. For a fiery twist, add some finely chopped Scotch bonnet peppers. The secret to nailing this dish is in the timing: sauté the vegetables for 10 minutes to build flavour, then steam them briefly until tender.
For another refreshing side dish, try this Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad and Red Cabbage Coleslaw.
Why This Recipe Works
- It is easy to prepare and made with easy-to-find ingredients.
- This Caribbean-style steamed cabbage is a fantastic, flavorful, filling side dish that pairs well with Jamaican Oxtail and the Jamaican Curry Shrimp.
- It's a great way to add vegetables to your menu.
- This recipe can be doubled or tripled depending on how many people you plan to feed.
Steamed Cabbage Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- White cabbage: Chop the cabbage thinly so that it is easy to eat. You can also dice them into bite-sized pieces. Wash and remove the stem from the cabbage before prepping.
- Red bell peppers: Select ripe, unbruised bell peppers for this recipe. Remove the stem and the seeds before prep. Dice or slice the pepper into bite-sized pieces.
- Carrots: Wash and peel the carrots before prepping. Chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Thyme: Opt for fresh thyme sprigs for this recipe. However, if you do not have fresh thyme, use dried thyme instead.
- Onions and garlic: Use fresh onions and garlic for the best flavor in this recipe.
Tips and Substitutions
- Scotch bonnets: Feel free to add one Scotch bonnet to increase the heat level of the steamed cabbage. You can also add paprika or cayenne pepper for an extra kick of heat.
- Seasoning: Steamed cabbage doesn't require much seasoning, as it is a relatively simple dish. However, you can add any other seasoning to suit your taste.
- Steaming: The great thing about this dish is that you can make it to your taste. If you prefer a crunchier dish, steam the cabbage for 5 minutes. For a softer dish, steam the cabbage for 15 minutes.
How to Make Steamed Cabbage
Step 1: Heat oil and butter in a pan until the butter has fully melted.
Step 2: Add onions, garlic and thyme to the pan and stir for 2-3minutes or until fragrant.
Step 3: Add cabbage, carrots, red bell peppers, scotch bonnet (optional), and seasoning to the pan and stir.
Step 4: Stir and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. Next, add water to the vegetables and stir.
Step 5: Cover the vegetables and steam on low heat for ten minutes.
Step 6: Once done, remove steamed cabbage from the heat.
Step 7: Finally, serve this tasty steamed cabbage as a side dish with saltfish or Jamaican jerk chicken.
Recipe FAQs
Steam the cabbage for 5-15 minutes, depending on how soft you want it to be.
Yes. You can add onions to steamed cabbage to add more flavor.
Place leftover steamed cabbage in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat the cabbage in the microwave when serving.
More Delicious Caribbean Recipes
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Steamed Cabbage
Equipment
- chopping board
- Chefs knife
- Pan
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon of butter
- 1 onion sliced
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 small white cabbage or half of a large white cabbage
- 3 carrots sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 scotch bonnet optional
- 1.5 teaspoon of all purpose seasoning
- 1 tablespoon of thyme or 3 thyme sprigs
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon of water
- A splash of olive oil
Instructions
- Heat oil and butter in a pan over medium heat until melted. Add onions, garlic, and thyme. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Toss in cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, scotch bonnet (optional), and the seasonings. Stir well to coat.
- Cook down and continue stirring on medium heat for 10 minutes, allowing the veggies to soften slightly and absorb flavor.
- Add water, stir, and cover. Steam on low heat for another 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still vibrant.
- Serve this delicious steamed cabbage as a side with saltfish or jerk chicken.
Notes
- Spice: To dial up the heat, add one chopped scotch bonnet pepper. A sprinkle of cayenne or paprika can also add an extra kick.
- Season to Taste: This dish is naturally flavourful and doesn't need heavy seasoning but, feel free to customize it with your favorite herbs or spices.
- Steam: The texture is up to you. Steam for just 5 minutes if you prefer a crunch, or extend to 15 minutes for a softer, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
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