Red Cabbage
This type adds a burst of color to any salad or stir-fry. Red cabbage takes longer to mature than green cabbage, so they usually are not as tender. This variety is perfect for serving raw in salads and slaws. The color in red cabbage can often run when cooked. Other foods will turn red and the cabbage will take on a bluish hue. This can be avoided by cooking with an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar.
Savoy Cabbage
Tender and sweet, Savoy cabbage is popular in Italian recipes and has a milder flavor than green cabbage. Look for heads with even green coloring and slightly cone-shaped leaves. The leaves should be crisp, not limp, and there should be no sign of browning. The firmer leaves work well when cooked in such dishes as cabbage rolls.
Green Cabbage
The heart of any good coleslaw is shredded green cabbage, which, in the supermarket, looks similar to a head of iceberg lettuce - green, round and typically a little smaller than a volleyball. Green is the most common type of cabbage and is popular for its crunchiness and mild flavor. When looking for a head of green cabbage, look for one that is heavy for its size and has no discoloration.
Bok Choy
Bok choy, otherwise known as bak choi, paak choi, Chinese chard cabbage and Chinese mustard cabbage is a vegetable that resembles celery although it is actually a member of the cabbage family. It has thick, white stalks and dark green leaves that have a round shape. When purchasing bok choy, select stalks that are pure white and firm. Additionally, look for leaves that are dark green and non-wilted. Do not select bok choy that has any brown spots on its leaves, as this type of bok choy is less flavorful. Baby bok choy, which is a younger version of bok choy, should also be purchased according to these standards.
Napa Cabbage
Introduced into North America from China in the 1880's, Napa is also known as Chinese cabbage. It has long, oblong-shaped leaves that are flat and wide. The leaves are a pale green to greenish white in the center. It looks much like a head of romaine lettuce only more compact, with curly edges. Napa can be served cooked or raw and works particularly well in stir-fries and soups.
And we can't forget...
Brussels Sprouts
Many kids turn their noses up at this miniature form of cabbage, but a little butter or a touch of salt is often the solution. In the supermarket, look for fresh, unfaded green color with no sign of yellowing. The heads should be dense and firm, the leaves unwilted.
So those are a few varieties.
Cabbages are high in antioxidants as well as Thiamin, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, and Potassium.. They are also rich in fiber and one of the strongest cancer fighters out there. It is very good for someone who doesn't
intake a lot of dairy products. Here is the nutritional breakdown:
A little trivia: What year did cole slaw become popular in the United States?
The answer is 1903. That was when bottled mayonnaise was invented, lol! Go figure. And that just happens to be the only way I can't stand cabbage!
And now a traditional Irish recipe incorporating cabbage :) See PT 2
No comments:
Post a Comment