Red Cabbage
Cabbage, also known as red cabbage, is a variety of cabbage characterized by its distinctive deep purple color and its smooth and crunchy leaves. It has a slightly sweet flavor and is rich in antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamin C and fiber. It can be eaten raw in salads, but it is also very popular cooked in dishes such as stews, soups, and casseroles, where its vibrant color adds an interesting visual touch to any dish.
Benefits of Cabbage
Cabbage is a vegetable from the cruciferous family, characterized by its intense purple or red color and slightly sweet taste. It is a variety of Brassica oleracea, like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts. Cabbage is mainly cultivated in the autumn and winter months and is a typical ingredient in Christmas cuisine in some regions of Spain. Cabbage has numerous beneficial properties for health, as it is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Among its main nutrients are vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Additionally, it contains anthocyanins, pigments that give it its purple color and have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and vision-protective effects. Cabbage can be consumed both raw and cooked, and offers many culinary possibilities. It can be prepared in salads, creams, stir-fries, stews, fillings, or fermented. Some traditional recipes with cabbage are cabbage with apple, raisins, and pine nuts, cabbage in puff pastry with apple, or stuffed chicken with cabbage and cardoon. It can also be combined with other ingredients such as cheese, bacon, rice, pear, or nuts. Cabbage is classified according to its ripening season into early, mid-season, and late varieties. Some of the most cultivated varieties are:
- ‘Rodynda’: a popular mid-season variety that forms a short stem and an oval head.
- ‘Tinty F1’: The ‘Tinty F1’ variety is probably a cross between red cabbage and pointed cabbage. It has a conical shape and an intense red color.
- ‘Kalibos’: ‘Kalibos’ is also a cross between red cabbage and pointed cabbage, so it is also called pointed red cabbage. It has an elongated shape and a sweet taste.
- ‘Marner Frührotkohl’: an early variety that forms round and compact heads.
- ‘Langendijker Allerfrühester’: another early variety that produces small and firm heads.
- ‘Frührot’: a mid-season variety that has round and medium-sized heads.
- ‘Mohrenkopf’: a mid-season variety characterized by its dark red color and rounded shape.
- ‘Marner Septemerrot’: a mid-season variety that has large and heavy heads.
- ‘Rodima’: a mid-season variety that forms round and smooth heads.
- ‘Marner Lagerrot’: a late variety that keeps well and has large and dense heads.
- ‘Langendijker Dauer’: another late variety that produces large and firm heads.
- ‘Dorota’: a late variety that has round and shiny heads.
Cabbage in Puff Pastry with Apple
Ingredients (for 4 people):
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 300 g of red cabbage
- 2 apples
- 50 g of butter
- 50 g of brown sugar
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Cut the red cabbage into thin strips and place it in a bowl with water and salt for 10 minutes. Drain and dry well.
- Peel the apples and cut them into small pieces. Put them in a pan with the butter and brown sugar and cook over medium heat until caramelized, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally and mash the pieces with a fork to make them into a compote.
- Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface and cut it into four equal rectangles. Place one of them on the baking tray and spread half of the apple compote over it, leaving a border of about 2 cm. Cover with half of the red cabbage and season to taste.
- Moisten the edge with water and cover with another rectangle of puff pastry, pressing the edges to seal them. Repeat the process with the other two rectangles of puff pastry and the remaining compote and cabbage.
- Beat the egg and brush the surface of the pastries with it. Make cuts in the pastry to allow steam to escape while baking.
- Bake the pastries for 25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the pastries hot or warm, accompanied by a green salad if desired.
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