This Jamaican Cabbage Recipe is going to add some big flavor to your side dish routine. It doesn’t take much effort, or a big list of ingredients, but our Caribbean friends sure have perfected the simple cabbage.
We’re always down for some Jamaican food. Although we have some great authentic restaurants nearby, we also love cooking it at home. Personally, it’s one of my favorite cuisines, never skimping on the flavors.
We came across this cabbage when we started visiting the local Jamaican restaurants, and noticed that it is the go-to vegetable side dish for all of their delicious mains, along with a generous portion of rice and peas. It’s always a treat, so of course we had to cook it ourselves.
Ingredients
- Cabbage – Just your basic green cabbage.
- Onion – Sliced.
- Garlic – I like a good bit in here, it adds a lot of flavor.
- Carrot – I shred it thinly with a vegetable peeler so its cooking time is similar to that of the cabbage.
- Tomato – Usually I add some fresh tomato, it nicely balances the dish, but if I don’t have any tomatoes on hand it still turns out good.
- Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper – Scotch bonnet is most traditional, but not always easy to find. Habanero is a great substitute.
- Scallion – Cut into batons.
- Fresh thyme – A must in Jamaican cooking.
- Butter and vegetable oil – To make it extra good.
- Salt and pepper – To taste.
Jamaican Steamed Cabbage Recipe
This is really easy. All I do is add all ingredients to a large pot, along with 2 tablespoons of water. Then I cover it and cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes. After that, I give it a stir and continue cooking, covered, for about another 10 minutes.
I do tend to prefer my cabbage on the softer side, but if you prefer crunchier, keep checking the doneness after the initial 6-8 minutes until it is done to your liking.
What to Serve with Jamaican Cabbage
As I mentioned earlier, this is a a great side dish for any Jamaican main dish. I love my Jerk Chicken and Brown Stew Chicken. They also have some amazing curries like Curry Chicken and Curry Shrimp. And let’s not forget those oxtails, which are near the top of our to-cook list. Whichever main you choose, don’t forget a side of Rice and Peas.
Beyond Jamaican food, this cabbage is also great alongside grilled meats or fish.
Recipe Notes
- If you don’t have fresh thyme, substitute 1 teaspoon of dried.
- Sometimes I throw in a couple of whole allspice berries.
- For a little added veggie power, add some sliced bell peppers.
- I you’re very heat sensitive, you can omit the scotch bonnet or habanero. But if you like it spicy, pierce the pepper before adding it to the pot.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on stovetop.
Give your humble cabbage a tasty Caribbean overhaul with this great recipe. Just one bite will make you a big fan.
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Jamaican Cabbage Recipe
This easy Jamaican Steamed Cabbage is so simple, but the flavors are amazing. Serve it with jerk chicken, or any of your favorite mains!
Ingredients
- 8 cups cabbage, chopped
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 4 scallions, cut into 1 inch lengths
- 1 habanero or scotch bonnet pepper
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 8-10 sprigs fresh thyme
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large pot, along with 2 tablespoons of water.
- Cover, and cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes. Remove cover, stir. Continue cooking, covered, for about another 10 minutes, or until cabbage is tender to your liking.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 114Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 8mgSodium 119mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 4gSugar 7gProtein 3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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