Cabbage Curry

Cabbage curry is a hot and spicy preparation of Indian origin. It is relished across the Indian subcontinent with the preparation method varying slightly from region to region. The nutritious curry is also part of the Kenyan cuisine and the Caribbean islands where it had been introduced by Indian laborers who settled during the colonial era.

While the cabbage can be prepared into a curry, using it as the sole vegetable, it is combined with potatoes and peas occasionally as well. The North Indians also add chickpea flour to the finely chopped cabbage and deep fry it in the form of round balls(called kofta) before adding it to a spicy concoction. This is usually consumed on festive occasions and is known as Cabbage Kofta Curry. The cabbage thoran is a specialty of the Southern State of Kerala where it is cooked into a dry dish, with onions and coconut being the only ingredients apart from spices and oil.

Finely chopped raw cabbage mixed with curry powder  is also consumed as a part of coleslaws and salads.  It  is frequently used as an ingredient in spicy dips as well.

Curried cabbage is served with hot rice or Indian flatbreads. The variations can be eaten with crusty breads or as part of  snack items in the Western world.

Overview of Cabbage Curry Recipes

The traditional method for cooking the cabbage curry involves adding cumin seeds to hot oil and stirring in the asafetida and spices just a minute before adding the finely chopped cabbage to it. The vegetable is coated with the spice mixture and stir-fried over low heat with salt added to it. A little water is added to the mixture especially if the cabbage is too dry. Tomatoes are occasionally added to the dish as well, which is served hot along with Indian breads or rice accompanied by a lentil dish. Aamchur or dried mango powder along with the garam masala powder help to impart a tangy taste and spicy aroma to the curry respectively, and are added after it is removed from heat.

The South Indian cuisine includes curried cabbage recipes which recommend the cabbage to be cooked with chili and turmeric powder with a tempering of mustard seeds and asafetida in hot sesame oil. Curry leaves are used to flavor the dish in the Southern parts of India.

Variations of Cabbage Curry Recipes

There are quite a few variations of the curry with the recipe differing sharply from region to region. Popular recipes for curried cabbages include:-
 

• Kenyan Curried Cabbage- This is a traditional African recipe where the cabbage is cooked with cream, flour, and curry powder.
   
• Red Curry Seared Cabbage- This is a Thai dish cooked with the traditional red curry paste, fish sauce and unsweetened coconut milk. It is served along with jasmine rice after adding a garnish of fresh basil leaves.
   
• Curry cabbage- This is a popular Jamaican dish of crisply cooked cabbage and onions coated with curry powder and topped with fried bacon.
   
• Mutton N Cabbage Curry- This is a festive fare of Northern India and Pakistan where the cabbage is cooked along with mutton or lamb in a spicy, hot gravy.

Trivia

Curried Cabbage Pillows is a unique variation of the cabbage curry, included in the recipe section of the, “Thai-style eBook.”