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    Home » SIDES

    Easy! Garlic Roasted Cabbage Steaks

    November 30, 2022 37 Comments

    Thick steaks of cabbage roasted until crispy on the outside stacked on a plate, with text overlay.
    Thick slices of cabbage steaks before and after roasting, with text overlay.

    Roasting vegetables brings out their best flavors, and when you add a little garlic, you have the perfect side dish. These crispy roasted cabbage steaks are a perfect example.

    Serve this as a side dish to a main entree, or have it for lunch topped with a soft poached egg. Or slice it up and add to a soup. It's ideal for a side dish to your St. Patrick's Day dinner. For more ideas, go check out this Irish vegetarian recipes post.

    Jump to Recipe
    Thick crispy cabbage slabs arranged like steaks on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • 🥬 Is Cabbage Healthy?
    • 🧅 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Recommended Equipment
    • 🎯 Top Tip for Making Cabbage Steaks
    • 🔥 How to Get Roasted Cabbage Steaks Crispy
    • ❤️ More Cabbage Recipes I Love
    • ❓FAQ
    • 🌱 Other Veggie Steaks!
    • Garlicky Roasted Cabbage Steaks (Recipe)
    • 🌱 Sign up for my emails, and get my 5 tips for easy vegetarian meals!

    With millions of recipes literally at our fingertips, it's tempting to think you need to complicate things with at least 15 ingredients to get a great tasting dish. And I've done it. But I'm trying to simplify my life, and cooking, by basing some meals around roasted vegetables like this Garlic Roasted Cabbage, Citrus Roasted Carrots and Roasted Peppers.

    🥬 Is Cabbage Healthy?

    Most of us associate the healthiest vegetable with the depth of their color. For example, dark green leafy vegetables like kale has more nutrients than iceberg lettuce. So I assumed cabbage wasn't all that powerful.

    But I was wrong.

    First of all, it belongs to the same family as broccoli, cauliflower and kale. These vegetables are among the healthiest with their strong mix of nutrients. So, like its cousins, cabbage is rich in B6 and folate, is high in fiber, and boasts some powerful antioxidants. Additionally it's packed with Vitamin C.

    Because of all these nutrients, the mighty cabbage may help keep inflammation in check, improve digestion, lower blood pressure, and could help lower cholesterol levels.

    🧅 Ingredients

    • Cabbage - The best cabbage for this recipe is green cabbage. Napa cabbage is too frilly to hold together into steaks, and the red color in red cabbage can seep out. This can discolor other food next to it, and the cabbage can end up more blue than red. Savoy cabbage isn't very crisp.
    • Herbs - I often use fennel seed, but many other dried herbs work just as well. For example thyme, caraway seed, and dill seed. After roasting, feather some coarsely chopped parsley on top for serving.
    • Garlic - I recommend using a garlic paste. This makes it much easier to apply to the cabbage steaks. You can make your own, or do what I do. I always keep Gourmet Garden Garlic Paste on hand. I've tried several brands, and they've all been too watered down with muted flavors.
    • Olive oil - or use a garlic infused olive oil. Here's a recipe if you want to know how to make garlic oil.

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.

    🔪 Recommended Equipment

    Nordic Ware Commercial Bakers Half Sheet Baking Sheet - Best Reviews rated this baking sheet as the best baking sheet for everyday use.

    Thick slices of cabbage topped with olive oil, salt and pepper, arranged on a baking sheet.

    🎯 Top Tip for Making Cabbage Steaks

    Make sure the cabbage steak slices are thick enough to flip. They should be between 1 inch and 1 ½ inches. If they're too thin, they fall apart more easily.

    🔥 How to Get Roasted Cabbage Steaks Crispy

    First of all, I should be clear that only the cabbage steaks' surface that's in contact with the baking sheet will crisp up. The remaining cabbage "meat" will be tender.

    1. The secret to getting a crisp outer surface is to not move them at all while they roast, except to flip them once.
    2. If your cabbage has a high water content, and you live in a humid area, it will be more difficult. (I live at a very dry 7100 ft in the mountains.) Pre-salting the cabbage slices may help. Arrange the cabbage steaks on the parchment paper, lightly salt, and let sit for 30 minutes. Use a paper towel to dab up any moisture on the cabbage, and then make the recipe as directed. 
    3. Preheating the baking sheet can help crisp the cabbage steaks faster.

    ❤️ More Cabbage Recipes I Love

    I'm a cabbage fan, I should acknowledge right up front. I like it shredded on a tostada, like this Black Bean and Avocado Tostada topped with Cabbage Salad. It's an easy lunch or dinner that comes together quickly.

    This French Cabbage is also a big favorite. Shredded cabbage is sautéed in vegetable stock with a little white wine, cream, mustard and caraway seeds.

    And I make my own sauerkraut, which is great for improved gut health.

    ❓FAQ

    What can I do with any leftovers?

    The flavors are still great the next day, but the crispy texture will completely wilted. If that's not important to you, simple reheat any leftovers.

    If the texture is important to you, I recommend sprinkling some grated Parmesan cheese on the top and reheat in the oven.

    Also, you can add any leftovers to casseroles and soups.

    Add them to mashed potatoes and make colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes).

    Add to a vegetarian Irish stew.

    Can I make this dish ahead?

    These garlic cabbage steaks are best fresh from the oven, toasty warm. If you make them ahead, the flavor will still be fabulous, but they won't be crispy.

    🌱 Other Veggie Steaks!

    Cauliflower is the obvious steak choice, and I have a couple of them. This cauliflower steak recipe explains how to make them in detail, using a few different methods.

    Or make these pesto cauliflower steaks. They are pan roasted and slide into the oven to finish. Then topped with pesto and buttery crispy breadcrumbs.

    Thick crispy cabbage slabs arranged like steaks on a plate.
    Print Recipe
    4.18 from 190 votes

    Garlicky Roasted Cabbage Steaks (Recipe)

    Easy roasted cabbage basted with garlic paste and either fennel or caraway seeds for a super-easy side dish. Only 10 - 15 minutes of prep, and only 4 ingredients (+ salt and pepper). Adapted from Martha Stewart's Roasted Cabbage Wedges.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Vegetable Side
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: roasted cabbage
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 62.1kcal
    Author: The Wimpy Vegetarian

    Equipment

    • a sturdy baking sheet
    • Chef's knife

    Ingredients

    • 1 head green cabbage
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
    • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, or caraway seeds
    • 1 teaspoons kosher salt, to taste
    • ½ teaspoon black ground pepper, to taste
    • parsley, for optional garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Slice the cabbage head into 1" slices and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with half of the oil, garlic paste, fennel, salt, and pepper. Carefully flip and apply the remaining oil, garlic, and spices.
    • Roast for 20 minutes, and flip back over. Roast for another 20 minutes, or until crispy around the edges.
    • Serve warm, and garnished with coarsely chopped parsley.
    • As a note, these 'steaks' aren't quite as good warmed up, as they lose their crispiness, but leftovers are great sliced and added to casseroles.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 62.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.2g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 3.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.6g | Sodium: 311.5mg | Potassium: 200.6mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 3.7g | Vitamin A: 111.4IU | Vitamin C: 42.1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz

      May 15, 2015 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      Sounds good and a little different. Thank you.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        May 15, 2015 at 9:15 am

        5 stars
        The roasting really brought out the flavors! Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    2. Florian @ContentednessCooking

      May 16, 2015 at 3:40 am

      5 stars
      This looks fantastic, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Britiany Gaskins

        March 17, 2021 at 10:54 pm

        4 stars
        It does not give me the option to post a picture. But I did make this and the flavor was amazing but my 'steaks' did not come out as steaks. I had a hard time with the 'root' of the cabbage while cutting..maybe I had a bad one. But my cabbage fell apart fairly quickly. I loved the char and the flavor! I can't complain! I made these with corned beef and roasted mini potatoes for st Patrick's day!

        Reply
        • The Wimpy Vegetarian

          March 20, 2021 at 12:02 pm

          5 stars
          I'm so glad you liked them! But I'm sorry for the trouble you had with the root, and it falling apart so quickly. I'm going to make them again and write some clearer instructions to avoid this, if I can. I love the feedback - thanks so much!!

          Reply
    3. Martha @ A Family Feast

      May 16, 2015 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      You sound very much like my husband at our dinner parties and holiday gatherings - he's always afraid we'll either run out of food or some guests won't be happy with fewer choices. So we always have too many leftovers! I love this recipe - roasted cabbage is so simple to make and tastes fantastic!

      Reply
    4. Alisa @ Go Dairy Free

      May 16, 2015 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      I love cabbage, but haven't tried it roasted yet - on the must make list now!

      Reply
    5. Kathy Hester

      May 16, 2015 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      When can I come over for dinner? I hope you have these when I do 😉

      Reply
    6. Susan | LunaCafe

      May 16, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      I love cabbage and this is such a novel treatment. Will definitely try it.

      Reply
    7. Amy Basso @ amysapron.net

      May 18, 2015 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      What a fantastic idea! A nice change from shredded cabbage...

      Reply
    8. mjskitchen

      May 19, 2015 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is a cabbage recipe that my husband would love. Cabbage isn't his favorite vegetable, but with lots of garlic, he'll eat this up. I know I certainly will. Clever recipe!

      Reply
    9. Norma Chang

      May 21, 2015 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      Cabbage is one of my favorite veggies and I just love this recipe, definitely making when cabbages are ready for harvesting.

      Reply
    10. Lindsay Cotter

      February 27, 2019 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delicious side! And so easy to make!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        February 28, 2019 at 7:58 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much! It really is! I make this all. the. time!!!

        Reply
    11. Toni | Boulder Locavore

      February 28, 2019 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      I seriously need to give this a try! Looks SO good!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        February 28, 2019 at 7:59 pm

        5 stars
        I think you'd love this, Toni!!! It's the most popular recipe on my blog by far!!

        Reply
    12. Suzy

      October 13, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best way to prepare cabbage! It's so good and the flavor is amazing!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        October 13, 2019 at 4:46 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much!!! It's absolutely my favorite way of making cabbage 🙂

        Reply
    13. Andrea Metlika

      October 13, 2019 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      I too am a cabbage fan. These steaks sound awesome and I have all the ingredients in my kitchen so I believe this will be tomorrow nights dinner.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        October 13, 2019 at 6:06 pm

        5 stars
        That's what I love about these - I almost always have all the ingredients on hand that I need to make them!

        Reply
    14. Jess

      October 13, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      This is the yummiest looking cabbage I've ver seen! It looks and sounds delicious! Sign me up!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        October 13, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much!!! I hope you give them a try!

        Reply
    15. C

      October 13, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious and easy recipe to make. Quickly becoming a family favorite:)

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        October 13, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        5 stars
        They're a family favorite here too!! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    16. Christy Atiles

      December 04, 2019 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      F**cking delicious! I didn't have plain garlic only a garlic and ginger paste and it was amazing! I'm surprised how sweet the cabbage got when cooked. Great vegan side!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 06, 2019 at 11:30 am

        5 stars
        I'm sooooo happy you liked this!!!! I love that you added a little ginger paste to it! Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂

        Reply
    17. G.

      January 02, 2020 at 5:38 am

      5 stars
      Can you put them in an air fryer?

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        January 05, 2020 at 3:09 pm

        5 stars
        I don't (yet) own an air fryer, so I haven't tried it. But I would think it would work great. If you try it, I'd love to hear how it works!

        Reply
    18. Kristine

      January 21, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      What can I use in place of Fennel or Caraway seeds? I don't have either in my pantry and I'm trying to use up other spices instead. Thanks!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        January 21, 2020 at 4:55 pm

        5 stars
        I think a good option is dried thyme. Do you have any in your pantry?

        Reply
        • Kristine

          January 23, 2020 at 10:34 am

          5 stars
          That i have! Thanks!

          Reply
          • The Wimpy Vegetarian

            January 23, 2020 at 10:35 am

            5 stars
            Great! Yay team!!

            Reply
      • Anthony Scudder

        June 10, 2021 at 2:12 pm

        Sesame seeds work great. Black sesame seed is even better.

        Reply
    19. Liz

      November 17, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      I wish I would have found this recipe sooner! I had so much cabbage from the garden this summer. What a great recipe!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        November 17, 2021 at 1:27 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much! It's super simple, and so rewarding!

        Reply
    20. Jen

      December 03, 2022 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      Served this with a side of mushrooms and onions in red wine sauce - it was heavenly. Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 03, 2022 at 2:07 pm

        5 stars
        That sounds wonderful!!! Thanks so much for letting me know!

        Reply

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    Susan at The Wimpy Vegetarian

    Hi there! I'm Susan.

    A mostly vegetarian married to a mostly carnivore, living in the mountains with our doodle, on Lake Tahoe. My cookbook, Simply Vegetarian, was named #1 best cookbook for new vegetarians. Come join me in simplifying life, starting with dinner!

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