Apple Cider & Garlic Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks
I wasn't crazy for cabbage until I experimented roasting it and now its one of my favorite vegetables, when prepare this way. This is a super simple and quick recipe that I promise has a very rewarding outcome! This side dish goes well with turkey or beef, I have made it a few times with local farmed turkey sausages I picked up from the farm market for a super quick week night meal!
Ingredients for Red Cabbage Steaks:
1 medium red cabbage sliced into thick steaks, roughly 2-3 cm thick
2-3 tbsp coconut oil or an alternative neutral oil, but for this recipe the mild sweetness of coconut oil is best recommended
2-3 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
3+ fresh raw garlic cloves minced
sea salt and pepper to taste
1 or 2 large baking sheets (optional: covered in tin foil for easier cleaning)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Rub both sides of the cabbage steaks in coconut oil and lay flat on your baking sheet
3. Rub minced garlic onto the cabbage as well, use you fingers to disperse evenly
4. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and drizzle vinegar over top of your cabbage
5. Place in oven to roast uncovered for 20-25 minutes, the outer layers of the cabbage should be crispy and the inside softened but still firm enough to hold together
6. Enjoy and share with loved ones! Serve along side a meaty dish or vegetarian protein source.
Recipe serves 6 + sides of cabbage depending on the size.
As you can see from my photo I added some goat cheese and balsamic drizzle, this is an option however absolutely unnecessary, It was tasty but I honestly prefer It without. I just tried it the one time as I was glamming up the the dish for a photo to share with you.
Some Health Benefits of super foods used in this recipe:
Red cabbage: rich in cancer fighting phytochemicals, antioxidants to inhibit carcinogens and cell damage, high in fiber, very low in calories, great source of vitamin C for immunity and beautiful skin, vitamin A also essential to skin, eye health and preventing degeneration, vitamin K essential for blood and bone health, prevention of osteoporosis, cancer and atherosclerosis
Apple Cider Vinegar: can kill some pathogens and unwanted bacteria, improves insulin activity during meals to lower blood sugar, has cancer reducing effects, contains acetic acid which increases metabolism, suppresses appetite which may promote weight loss, reduces water retention
Coconut Oil: antimicrobial, contains lauric acid that kills pathogenic bacteria and some viruses, supports immune function, contains MCT (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) which are easily absorbed and taken right to the liver for immediate energy, not stored as fat such as Long-Chain Triglycerides contained in most other vegetable oils which need additional enzymes to digest, coconut oil stimulates metabolism to promote weight loss, is a source of undamaged saturated fat, stable when cooking - does not become damaged or turn into a trans fat when heated as many sensitive oils do, this destroys their antioxidants and they become oxidized creating toxic chemicals
Garlic: powerful antioxidant, reduces cell damage, antimicrobial, immune boosting, detoxifying, lowers LDL cholesterol, reduce blood pressure