Punjabi-Style Cabbage
Learn how to make Indian-style cabbage in your slow cooker.
Editor's Note: This Punjabi-Style Cabbage is an easy cabbage recipe that infuses your meal with the flavors of Punjab, a region in India. It can be made in the slow cooker, but when sauteed on the stovetop it only takes about five minutes to throw together! Most Indian food recipes require a lot of preparation, but not this one - with a few spices such as turmeric and cumin, plain cabbage is transformed into an exotic new dish. Recipes with turmeric are also beneficial for your health, as turmeric is an amazing spice that helps prevent a number of ailments. If you've never tried Punjabi food, this is a great starting point!
One of the first times I made this dish for my kids, they went crazy stuffing it in a roti like a taco. This is a delicious, easy recipe that will make cooking dinner fun. The dish is traditionally made on the stovetop, but it comes out great in a slow cooker as well.
Serves7 cups (1.66 L)
Cooking Time4 min
Cooking Time - Text240
Cooking MethodSauteeing
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 4 hours
Kid FriendlyYes
Recipe CourseMain Course, Side Dish
Dietary ConsiderationEgg-free, Gluten-free, Halal, Kosher, Lactose-free, Peanut Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
MealDinner
Taste and TextureCrunchy, Savory, Spiced
Type of DishVegetable
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (45 mL) oil
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder (see Notes)
- ½ yellow or red onion, peeled and diced (½ cup [75 g])
- 1 (1 inch [2.5-cm]) piece ginger root, peeled and grated or minced
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 medium potato, peeled and diced (1 cup [150 g])
- 1 medium head white cabbage, outer leaves removed and finely shredded (about 8 cups [560 g])
- 1 cup (145 g) peas, fresh or frozen
- 1 green Thai, serrano, or cayenne chile, stem removed, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red chile powder or cayenne
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt
About the Author
Born in India and raised outside of Philadelphia, Anupy Singla grew up visiting her father’s childhood village in India. Her first cooking lesson was with her paternal grandfather who schooled her in traditional, spicy Punjabi-style cooking. It was this passion that convinced Anupy to leave daily reporting to teach her young girls how to appreciate and eat good Indian food.
Check out Anupy Singla's cookbooks on Cookstr.com: Vegan Indian Cooking, Indian for Everyone: The Home Cook's Guide to Traditional Favorites, and The Indian Slow Cooker.
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions:
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Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and mix gently.
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Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve with white or brown basmati rice, toti, or naan. This is a great filler for a pita with a little drizzle of soy yogurt mira.
Stovetop Instructions:
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In a deep, heavy pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the cumin and turmeric and cook until the seeds sizzle, about 30 seconds.
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Add the onion, ginger root, and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
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Add the potato. Cook for 2 minutes, until soft.
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Add the cabbage and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure all of the cabbage is mixed well with the spices.
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Add the peas, chile, coriander, cumin, black pepper, red chile powder, and salt.
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Turn the heat to low and partially cover the pan. Cook until the cabbage wilts, about 8 to 10 minutes. Some like to cook it a little longer. My kids like it a tiny bit crunchy.
Notes
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Slow cooker size: 3½ quart (3.32 L)
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Turmeric Powder (Haldi): lf there is one spice my family cannot do without, it’s turmeric. Derived from a root, like ginger, it grows in the ground and is washed, peeled, dried, and ground into the bright yellow-orange powder you likely know. A staple in Indian cooking and religious ceremonies (brides are washed in turmeric as part of their prewedding beauty regimen), this magic powder is a natural antibacterial agent. Its active ingredient, curcumin, is currently being studied for its ability to combat serious diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. My girls know to ask for a little turmeric when they cut themselves. We gargle with it when we have sore throats, and we layer it in fresh Indian breads when we have colds. Its uses are endless and amazing, but don’t get it near your clothes. The yellow stains will last forever! (I still have stains on my favorite outfit from my cousin Vikram’s wedding.) At some specialty Indian grocers, you can find turmeric fresh, whole, and in yellow and white forms. Grab it, peel it, and grate it into your favorite salads.
More Vegan Indian Recipes from Anupy Singla
Love this recipe? We have even more yummy vegan dishes from this Indian recipes cookbook. Check out:
1. Mushrooms in Cashew Cream Sauce
2. Masala Chickpea Burger
3. Spiced Peas and “Paneer”
4. Chickpea Poppers
5. Tofu Curry
Read NextOven-Roasted Chicken Tikka
2012 Anupy Singla
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Buzzy 6091751
Jan 25, 2014
Hello. What is soy yogurt mira? Thank you. PS - When I log in, there is a message "Login unsuccessful - Email address and password do not match", even though myl ogin is good.
catbear 1253056
Feb 22, 2013
Wow! Really delicious! I decided to make this recipe to use up some cabbage I had and because I love Indian food and had all the ingredients on hand and it sounded healthy. It is so much more than I was expecting after reading the ingredient list and recipe. Authentic and flavorful! (Or maybe I should say tasted like restaurant food since I am not Indian.) Mine was very spicy, and I like spicy. I followed the recipe just as stated using a serrano and chipotle chile powder. Anyway, I loved it. I used the crock pot method and wasn't sure if it would turn out as well as stove top, but it was so easy and delicious that I will always do it that way. I loved how it wasn't oily, but had lots of flavor. I had it with some vegetable pakoras and rice, and it was just perfect. Thanks for sharing, Anupy...I need to get your cookbook! And thanks for the turmeric tips, too.
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