Howdy my friends! How’s everything going with you all? It has been hectic here lately (for me), busy work schedules and other stuff (including new routine, sneezing every other minute). The hectic life does not stop me from treating myself with delicious nutritious meals (that is a MUST!). I hope you do the same!
March 2023, what do we do in this month? EAT? Not quite! We celebrate National Nutrition Month. This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics campaign is “Fuel for the Future.” It focuses on eating with sustainability, in which we practice mindful eating while protecting our environment. There are many ways to practice sustainable eating, and if you are interested in trying this eating lifestyle, please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. One of the tips for sustainable eating is to eat seasonally, it is easy to do, right?
March is the month of cabbage! I am almost certain most of you have tried some cabbage dishes in the past (or maybe are eating it right at this moment), like coleslaw, cabbage soup, stir-fry cabbage, or sauerkraut/kimchi. What is cabbage? It comes in many different forms, the most commonly found at the grocery store are green cabbage, purple cabbage, and napa cabbage. Cabbage belongs to the cruciferous vegetable family. It is packed with phytochemicals and fiber, and also rich in vitamin K and vitamin C (Link, 2020). The sulfur-containing compounds in cabbage are believed to have a positive role in reducing risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer (Palmer, 2018).
Now that we understand more about cabbage, how about getting busy in the kitchen and starting to prepare some cabbage dishes? Today I am sharing seven TASTY but SIMPLE cabbage recipes (some you might have made before, some might be new to your world).
Korean street toast: This is a very delicious cabbage-egg sandwich recipe! I made mine with my own homemade matcha sesame babka toast. I have this sandwich with ketchup and yellow mustard. The recipe is adapted from Maangchi.
Spicy shrimp tacos with garlic cilantro lime slaw: This is a Mexican-inspired dish/meal. It is so flavorful and satisfying! The cabbage is incorporated into the garlic cilantro lime slaw. I enjoyed this taco A LOT (in case you want to know)! This is going to be my go-to taco from now on!
Okonomiyaki cabbage pancake: Okonomiyaki translates into English as “as-you-like-it-pancake.” It is not a regular pancake that you know, it is actually a savory-type pancake dish that is commonly found in Japan. It is usually drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise, okonomiyaki sauce, and topped with katsuobushi (shavings of smoked bonito). There are many Okonomiyaki recipes out there, I found one that is more friendly to your tastes and the ingredients are mostly available at the grocery store. If you are interested in trying out, please visit Alexandra’s kitchen.
Napa chicken salad with sesame dressing: I have to confess to you here, when I saw this recipe, I almost skipped it, because the appearance (kinda dull in color). But somehow I ended up giving this recipe a try, which I am glad I did. I must say this is a winner cabbage salad, the flavors and textures from all the ingredients pair very well together! I highly recommend you try this salad. For the recipe, please refer to Pinch of Yum.
Steamed cabbage rolls: Another extremely simple but delicious cabbage recipe! I made these cabbage rolls with ground chicken breast (make your own protein choice when making them). I served these cabbage rolls with a bowl of warm rice and some stir-fry vegetables. The recipe is adapted from Red House Spice.
Egg Roll in the bowl: Craving for some egg rolls, but do not have time/skills to make ‘em, or on a low carb diet? This egg roll in the bowl dish checks all those boxes. To my understanding, it is pretty much a stir-fry shredded cabbage dish, but we gave it a “fancier” name. Even so, this is an easy way to introduce cabbage in your diet, because it is so delicious! The recipe is inspired by the Modern Proper.
Mexican slaw with Cilantro and Lime: Needing a quick, palatable side dish in 15 minutes (for your tacos/wraps/grain bowls)? This is YOUR dish! Main ingredients for this slaw are simple: shredded cabbage, red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime, oil, and seasoning (salt, cumin, coriander, and pepper). I paired my Mexican slaw in a smoky cauliflower chimichurri bowl. The Mexican slaw recipe is inspired from Feasting at Home.
Reference
Klemm, S. (2020). Sustainable eating. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org/food/planning/food-security-and-sustainability/sustainable-eating-1#:~:text=Sustainable%20eating%20is%20about%20choosing,a%20nutritious%20and%20sustainable%20diet.
Link, R. (2020). Cruciferous vegetables. Today’s Dietitian, 22 (6), 46. Retrieved from https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/JJ20p46.shtml
Palmer, S. (2018). Winter vegetables. Today’s Dietitian, 20 (11), 20. Retrieved from https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/1118p20.shtml#:~:text=%22Cabbage%20is%20high%20in%20sulfur,most%20budget%2Dfriendly%20vegetable%20buys.
*Some of the ingredients were sponsored by the DRH Food and Nutrition Department. Most of the cooking was placed in the kitchen at the DRH Food and Nutrition Department.