Tender and Crispy: Healthy Cabbage Wraps & Steamed Cabbage Recipe
How to Boil Cabbage, How to Steam Cabbage, Easy Cabbage Wraps at Home
We all know how beneficial cabbage is for our health! It’s low in calories yet highly filling, making it a popular choice for diets. It also aids in stomach health, which is why I personally enjoy preparing steamed cabbage or cabbage wraps frequently. Today, I’ll guide you through the simple steps of boiling and steaming cabbage at home. You can adjust the texture to be tender or crisp according to your preference, and it’s perfect for using as a wrap for other ingredients!
Main Ingredients- Fresh Cabbage 314g
- Boiling Water 600ml (for steaming)
- Plenty of Water 1L (for boiling)
Cabbage Cleaning and Preparation- Vinegar 3 Tbsp (for effective cleaning)
- Vinegar 3 Tbsp (for effective cleaning)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your fresh cabbage. The foundation of any great dish starts with fresh ingredients.
Step 2
Carefully separate the outer leaves of the cabbage one by one. Then, using a knife, trim the thick core part. You can slice it thinly, about 0.5cm thick, or cut it away. Trimming the core like this will make the entire cabbage much softer and easier to eat after cooking.
Step 3
If the cabbage leaves are too large for making wraps, cut them into a manageable size, approximately 8-10cm square. This size is ideal for wrapping other ingredients neatly and comfortably.
Step 4
Now, it’s time to clean the cabbage thoroughly. In a large bowl, add enough water to fully submerge the cabbage, then stir in 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Let the cabbage soak in this solution for about 5 minutes. Soaking in vinegar water is more effective at removing impurities than simply rinsing under running water.
Step 5
After 5 minutes, gently rinse the cabbage leaves under running water 2-3 times, swirling them to ensure they are clean. Place the rinsed cabbage leaves onto a colander, spreading them out without overlapping, to allow excess water to drain.
Step 6
Now, let’s move on to boiling the cabbage. Pour 1 liter of water into a pot and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat on the stove.
Step 7
Once the water is boiling vigorously, carefully add about half of the prepared cabbage leaves to the pot. Use a spoon or tongs to gently stir the cabbage, ensuring it’s submerged in the water.
Step 8
After stirring, continue to boil the cabbage over high heat for just about 2-3 minutes. Overcooking will make the cabbage mushy and affect its texture, so timing is key.
Step 9
When the boiling time is up, discard the hot water from the pot and pour the cabbage into a colander. Since it was just boiled, the cabbage will be hot. To cool it down, rinse the cabbage under cold running water while gently tossing it with your hands.
Step 10
Once the cabbage has cooled down and the heat has dissipated, gently press the leaves to squeeze out excess water. Your tender and delicious boiled cabbage is ready! It’s perfect for immediate use as wraps.
Step 11
Next, we’ll cover how to steam cabbage. Pour about 600ml of water into a pot and place a steamer basket over it. Set the heat to high and wait for the water to start steaming.
Step 12
Once the water is steaming, arrange the cleaned cabbage leaves in the steamer basket. To ensure even cooking, avoid overcrowding the steamer. Arrange the leaves in a staggered pattern, leaving some space between them, so that steam can circulate effectively.
Step 13
Cover the steamer with a lid. Once you see steam escaping from under the lid, maintain high heat and steam for about 5 minutes. The steaming time can vary slightly depending on the heat intensity and the amount of cabbage, but 5-8 minutes is generally recommended. For a crisp texture, aim for 5-6 minutes; for a softer texture, steam for 7-8 minutes.
Step 14
After the initial 5 minutes of steaming, turn off the heat but keep the lid on. Let the cabbage rest and steam in its own residual heat for another 2 minutes. This resting period will make the cabbage even more moist and tender.
Step 15
Once the resting time is complete, carefully transfer the steamed cabbage to a colander. As it’s freshly steamed, it will still be hot. Rinse it under cold running water, gently tossing with your hands to cool it down completely.
Step 16
Finally, arrange the cooled cabbage on the colander and let the excess water drain away. Your healthy and delicious steamed cabbage is ready! You can enjoy it as is, or serve it with ssamjang (dipping paste) and other wrap ingredients for an enhanced flavor.
