If you've promised yourself to eat more vegetables, cabbage can be your best ally. It makes a great side dish and you can add it to smoothies too, plus steaming it is super easy. Steaming ensures that the kale keeps its essential nutrients, such as calcium, which are very important for health, intact. Once cut, you can cook the cabbage in the microwave or with the steamer in a very short time. Try adding a clove of garlic and seasoning it to make it even tastier and tastier.
Ingrediants
- 1 cabbage
- 1 clove of garlic
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lemon juice (optional)
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Steam the Cabbage in the Steamer
Step 1. Wash the cabbage leaves
Rinse them with cold water to remove impurities and any residues of chemicals that are dangerous to health. Briefly dry the leaves before cooking them.
- You can easily dry them using the salad spinner.
- Decide whether to cook the ribs and stems as well. If they are particularly hard and thick, you can remove them with the knife.
Step 2. Cut the leaves into strips
If the slices are easier to manage, serve and chew once cooked.
You can chop the leaves by hand or cut them into thin strips with the knife
Step 3. Pour 2 inches of water into the bottom of the steamer and turn on the stove
Bring the water to a boil to kill any bacteria.
The best way to purify tap water is to boil it. Once boiled, you can drink it and use it freely for cooking
Step 4. Finely chop a clove of garlic while the water warms up
Place it in the center of the cutting board and cut it into very small pieces. If you want to save time, you can buy pre-chopped frozen garlic.
Step 5. Place the chopped cabbage and minced garlic in the steamer basket
Steaming ensures that the vegetables do not become too soft and do not lose their nutrients. According to experts, by incorporating steamed vegetables into your diet, you can reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- You can steam other leafy vegetables with cabbage, such as chard or spinach.
- All cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, have anti-cancer properties and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Step 6. Reduce the heat to simmer the water slowly and place the lid on the steamer
Adjust the heat so that the heat is not excessive, otherwise the cabbage will cook too quickly and may dry out.
Steaming is gentler than boiling. By cooking over moderate heat, the leaves will not break and the cabbage will keep its shape intact
Step 7. Steam the cabbage for 5-10 minutes
Check it frequently and turn it halfway through cooking for an even result. When the leaves begin to wilt, the cabbage is ready.
Step 8. Serve the cabbage
Once cooked, you can eat it right away. Put it on a plate or in a bowl and season it to taste, for example with salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Steamed cabbage is a great side dish. You can eat it on its own or include it in another recipe
Method 2 of 2: Steam the Cabbage in the Microwave
Step 1. Slice the cabbage and place it in a microwave-safe bowl along with a teaspoon of water
Cabbage is naturally rich in water, so adding very little is enough for steam to form.
Step 2. Cover the bowl with paper towels
The paper is used to retain the heat inside the tureen, to facilitate the cooking of the cabbage.
You can use microwave film if you prefer, but remember to pierce it to let the steam escape
Step 3. Cook the cabbage on full power for at least 2 minutes
Calculate 2 minutes of cooking for every 200 g of cabbage. When the leaves begin to wilt, the cabbage is ready.
Cooking time may vary depending on the microwave power
Step 4. Serve the cabbage
Put it in a colander to drain it from excess water. At this point the cabbage is ready to be eaten. Put it on a plate or in a bowl and serve it as a side dish for the main course.
- You can season the cabbage to taste, for example with salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
- If you like spicy foods, you can add a sprinkle of fresh or powdered chili.
