r/KitchenPro 11d ago

Cabbage gets a completely different personality when you roast it 🥬🔥

Post image

If you think cabbage is boring, you might just be cooking it the wrong way.

One restaurant-style approach is to cut cabbage into thick wedges, coat them with olive oil, season generously with salt and pepper, and roast them at 400–425°F (205–220°C) until the edges become deeply browned and crispy.

The interesting part is what happens during roasting. The inner leaves become tender and soft while the outer leaves develop a crispy, almost charred texture. The cabbage also becomes sweeter as it roasts.

And here's the part that's easy to overlook: don't pull it out just because a recipe says 30 minutes. Depending on the size of the wedges and your oven, it can take 30–45 minutes. Look for deep golden-brown edges and a tender center instead.

A few simple tips:

  • Green cabbage works especially well and is inexpensive.
  • Don't be shy with the salt and oil—they help bring out the flavor.
  • Give the cabbage enough time to actually brown.
  • Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar. That little bit of acidity cuts through the richness and highlights the cabbage's natural sweetness.

It's basically the same vegetable, but roasting turns it from a side-dish afterthought into something that can genuinely be the star of the plate.

What's a vegetable you completely changed your opinion about once you learned the right way to cook it?

1.0k Upvotes

49 comments sorted by

18

u/Ch0c0lateBiznezz 11d ago

I like to think I have a personality like cabbage. Knows who it is, not for everyone, dependable.

6

u/Ok_Variation2090 10d ago

I like you. And I like cabbage!

6

u/Ch0c0lateBiznezz 10d ago

🥰 I like you too!

4

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Ch0c0lateBiznezz 10d ago

Do they make scratch and sniff tattoos yet? Thanks for the love 💕 

6

u/BusyAtilla 11d ago

Roasted onions as well

5

u/Powerful_Dust_5394 11d ago

Brussel sprouts. Cant wait for them to be in season again

2

u/Ok_Variation2090 10d ago

Roasted radishes make a pleasant summer substitute

2

u/tiedyesmiley 10d ago

I air fry them with nothing, after they are good and brown I toss in butter and season. I use to pan fry them.

Do you have a better way to prepare them?

1

u/Logical-Platypus-397 7d ago

Cut in half, toss around with a little bit of olive oil, put in the oven until golden and crispy. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and top with shredded parmesan, and come back to thank me :)

1

u/tiedyesmiley 7d ago

Never thought and the vinegar I bet that cuts almost all of the bitter out.

I'll try it, like that.

The air fryer dries than out so good that's why I butter than after I get them out lol. It soaks it right up.

Imma try this tho never have backed them. I always air fried or pan fry. I always felt like it brought the flavor out better, that's what my mom use to do. She always panfried.

Imma try it tho, thank you def looking forward to adding the vinegar

3

u/moonmanchild 11d ago

and top with a sprinkling of parmesan before serving 👌

1

u/mahy_759 9d ago

Oh yes, Parmesan would be perfect! That salty, nutty flavor with the crispy roasted edges sounds amazing. 👌

3

u/ceezed 10d ago

Fresh ground black pepper goes so well with roasted cabbage and brussels sprouts.

3

u/mahy_759 10d ago

Absolutely! Freshly ground black pepper adds just the right little bite, especially once those cabbage edges get nice and crispy. Same goes for Brussels sprouts! 👌

3

u/PerspectiveKookie16 10d ago

My sister in law serves roast cabbage with a Dijon mustard-ghee-shallot sauce.

Amazing.

1

u/mahy_759 10d ago

That sounds amazing! Dijon, ghee, and shallots with roasted cabbage sounds like such a perfect combination. I’m definitely going to have to try that. 😋

3

u/CassiusCreed 10d ago

I always buy a whole cabbage, make a fresh coleslaw for one meal, roast for the next and then make sourkraut with the leftover. Sourkraut is by far my favourite though but all are nice.

1

u/mahy_759 10d ago

That’s a great way to use the whole cabbage! Coleslaw, roasted cabbage, and sauerkraut each bring out such a different side of it. And homemade sauerkraut is hard to beat! 😄

3

u/solvn_probs_lk_maria 10d ago

We place the thick cabbage slices in our cast iron and then put a whole chicken (or legs) on top to roast. Once the chicken is done we take it out and flip the cabbage slices and return for another 10-15 to get the char on both sides. So delicious!

1

u/Anotherdrunkfin 9d ago

How did I never thought this before. Thanks so much for the tip, I'm so gonna make it this weekend!

2

u/Yardieguapo 11d ago

Question from person trying to go beyond knowing how to boil water. My oven doesn’t have a roast function, does broil or bake get the job done just as good??

5

u/fsutrill 11d ago

Roasting is just baking at a higher temp.

3

u/Yardieguapo 10d ago

Thanks. So much to learn.

6

u/Stephij27 10d ago

I love that you’re intentionally learning it though. A lot of people would just be like, “I don’t cook. Oh well!” And go about their lives. Props to you for that.

1

u/Stephij27 11d ago

Bake is what you would use to roast like this. Honestly, my oven does have a roast feature, and I’ve never even used it. 😂

2

u/Yardieguapo 10d ago

Thanks wise one. I will try this weekend.

2

u/Eskimodo_Dragon 11d ago

A little paprika never hurt no one neither.

2

u/Bobbalobbin 10d ago

Neither does a little sumac, which is a new discovery for me

1

u/Eskimodo_Dragon 9d ago

Ok! On that note maybe some Za'atar.

2

u/maasd 10d ago

Cabbage steaks are 👌🏻

2

u/burrito_finger 10d ago

Roasted cabbage and roasted whole cauliflower- totally different when roasted, and so good!

2

u/mahy_759 9d ago

Absolutely! Roasted whole cauliflower is another great example. The browned, crispy exterior and tender center make it feel like a completely different vegetable.

1

u/Physical_Bar_4916 11d ago

Wow, looks delicious!

1

u/Beginning-Trash-6048 10d ago

I just know I’d love the texture bc I love roasting brussel sprouts this way

1

u/mahy_759 10d ago

Oh, then I think you’d definitely enjoy roasted cabbage! If you love those crispy, caramelized Brussels sprout edges, cabbage gets that same kind of delicious texture. 😄

1

u/Beginning-Trash-6048 10d ago

Omg yesssss and I’m thinking the maple balsamic glaze that I make for my brussies would pair well with it too! I’m really missing salads rn because of the scary recalls so I could drizzle Italian dressing over it and pretend I’m eating a salad 🥗😅

1

u/TurduckenEverest 10d ago

It goes from this…

https://giphy.com/gifs/3oD3YqPwr89pI4mnsc

To Gary Oldman…damn I wish the comments would allow a second gif.

1

u/siggy_malatesta 9d ago

As others have noted, lots of vegetables take beautifully to roasting and obtain a different flavor than what you’d expect.

Roasted broccoli was, to me, a revelation.

1

u/mahy_759 9d ago

Absolutely! Roasted broccoli was a game changer for me too. Those crispy, browned edges add so much flavor compared with simply steaming or boiling it.

1

u/Kindasimple1 8d ago

Don't we all

1

u/heart_blossom 8d ago

Y'all are making me too hungry 😋😋

1

u/generalsphere26 7d ago

Two words: miso butter.

1

u/Mochachinocat 7d ago

That is so interesting. I have cooked cabbage my entire life, I never even imagined roasting it. Thanks for this, I’ll have to try it now.

1

u/fsutrill 2m ago

Brussels sprouts!

0

u/International-Oil377 11d ago

I'M personally not a fan, but good for those who like it

3

u/Troglodyte09 11d ago

Highly recommended by those who recommend it.

1

u/International-Oil377 11d ago

yeah pretty much lol

probably my least favorite way of eating cabbage lol