Steamed Cabbage Rolls: The Gift from God Recipe (Soft & Sweet!)
Steamed Cabbage Rolls: The Gift from God Recipe (Soft & Sweet!)
Ultimate Guide to Steaming Cabbage Perfectly & Timing (Great for Diet!)
Cabbage is renowned for its benefits to the stomach and intestines, rich fiber content, and low calories, making it an excellent choice for dieting. Often called ‘the gift from God,’ this vegetable offers both delicious taste and remarkable health advantages. While there are various ways to prepare cabbage rolls, today we’ll explore the method that yields the most delicious results: steaming. You can steam cabbage in a microwave or boil it in a pot, but steaming on a rack allows you to fully appreciate its natural sweetness and tender texture. I’ll provide you with detailed instructions on how to steam cabbage perfectly and the optimal steaming time. Let’s get started on creating healthy and delicious diet-friendly cabbage rolls!
Main Ingredients- 1/4 head of cabbage
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, remove any dirty or damaged outer leaves from the cabbage. Then, cut the cabbage in half, and cut each half in half again, creating quarters.
Step 2
Carefully cut out and discard the hard core from the center of each cabbage quarter. This core is tough and fibrous, making it difficult to eat raw and preventing the leaves from separating easily. Removing it is crucial for preparing the leaves for steaming.
Step 3
With the core removed, gently separate the leaves one by one. Try to keep the leaves intact as much as possible, as this will help them hold their shape better when steamed.
Step 4
If you happen to have smaller, firmer inner pieces of cabbage, don’t discard them! Even these smaller parts can be delicious when dipped in ssamjang (a Korean dipping sauce). Store them in a zipper bag in the refrigerator and use them later.
Step 5
Place the separated cabbage leaves in a bowl of cold water. Soaking them briefly in a vinegar-water solution can help clean them more thoroughly. Rinse each leaf under running water until clean.
Step 6
Now, let’s prepare the steamer. Fill a pot with water. Ensure the water level is low enough so that it doesn’t touch the bottom of the steamer basket when it’s placed on top. Once the water is in, place the steamer basket over the pot.
Step 7
Once the pot is producing plenty of steam, carefully place the cabbage leaves into the steamer basket. Arranging the leaves with their curved side facing upwards can help them cook more evenly.
Step 8
Steam the cabbage for 5 minutes, then let it rest (steam off) for an additional 2 minutes to allow it to finish cooking through. This steaming time can vary slightly depending on the size of the cabbage leaves and the intensity of your heat, so keep an eye on them.
Step 9
Crucially, do not rinse the steamed cabbage under cold water! Doing so will wash away its natural sweetness. Immediately after steaming, place the cabbage on a wire rack to cool down and allow the excess moisture to evaporate. Enjoy your tender and sweet steamed cabbage rolls!
