This Roasted Cabbage Sticks recipe takes regular cabbage and turns it into a rich, tender and caramelized vegetable side dish! This is a simple 5-ingredient recipe that is easy to make over and over again.
Introducing a new and improved way to eat cabbage: Cabbage Sticks! Like cauliflower steaks, they don’t pretend to be real steaks. Instead, a whole cabbage is cut into thick “stakes”, dressed with oil and simple seasonings, then roasted until you have tender, lightly caramelized and richly flavored cabbage leaves.
All my life I’ve only thought cabbage was good for coleslaw. Boy what was wrong with me! Cabbage is an amazing vegetable, just like Brussels sprouts or cauliflower, and deserves more attention.
Vegan Cabbage Steak will change how you look at cabbage. As they cook, the edges become golden and slightly crispy while the inner leaves are soft and tender. All the bitterness of raw cabbage is left behind as the finished result is addictive, smoky and delicious.
How to make cabbage steaks
Find the full recipe with measurements on the recipe card below.
Tear off any loose or dark leaves from the cabbage. Roughly chop the whole cabbage to end up with about 6 steaks, depending on the size of your cabbage.
Stir oil, garlic, salt and smoked paprika in a bowl.
Place the cabbage sticks on a baking sheet and brush the seasoned olive oil mixture over each slice. Flip, then repeat on the other side.
Roast the cabbage steaks in the oven until they are brown on both sides and tender in the middle.
Season the baked cabbage steaks with freshly cracked pepper and/or your favorite garnish, then enjoy!
Air Fryer Instructions
Air Fryer Cabbage Steak is easy to make and requires no flipping. Start by pouring ¼ cup of water into the bottom of the basket (under the grates), then place one or two steaks in the basket. Air fry at 360ºF for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Repeat with remaining cabbage wedges, then serve.
Serving advice
Like Brussels sprouts, cabbage steaks can be served as a side dish with any main dish of your choice. The light smoky flavors pair especially well with dishes you’d find at a summer barbecue, like my Tempeh Reuben Sandwich, BBQ Tempeh Ribs, and Vegan Potato Salad.
The last time I made these, I had them as my lunch and ate almost the whole cabbage! Very tasty.
go ahead
Slice the cabbage beforehand, and whisk the oil, spices and salt in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to cook for a super simple vegetable side dish!
variety
- Cabbage is way more seasoned – Add as many spices as you like to this recipe! You can use old bay, chili powder, dried herbs, or cumin instead of or in addition to the smoked paprika. Alternatively, swap out the oil and seasonings for vegan garlic butter!
- oil free – Oil is very important for frying cabbage as it softens the inside and creates a golden crust on the outside. You can try using vegetable broth as an oil-free alternative, but this is unlikely to work as well.
- Purple cabbage – You can easily make this recipe with purple cabbage steak if you already have it at home. Just know that purple cabbage has a stronger flavor than green cabbage, but it will still be delicious.
- Finish with garnish – Once the cabbage steaks are grilled, top with vegan parmesan, crushed almonds, fresh parsley, caramelized onions, shredded lettuce, and more. Serve with sliced ​​onions, bacon or barbecue sauce.
to save
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. They reheat well in the air fryer or in the microwave for about 1 minute.
You can freeze cabbage steak, but the texture may change slightly. Melt and heat in the oven and serve hot.
Want more vegetable side dishes?
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with olive oil.
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Remove any loose, dark leaves from the cabbage. Cut into 1-inch-thick slices. You will get 6-8 steaks.
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In a small bowl, add olive oil, garlic, salt and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
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Arrange the cabbage steaks in the prepared pan. Brush the cabbage with the seasoned olive oil mixture, then turn them over and brush the other side as well.
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Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until lightly browned. Flip them carefully with a large spatula, and place in the oven for another 5-10 minutes until the center of each cabbage steak is tender.
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Serve hot sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper if desired. Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days. Reheat in microwave, air fryer or oven until hot.
- You can use less oil if needed or use half oil and half vegetable broth. Oil is what makes cabbage so tender and delicious, so don’t try to skip it altogether.
- Green cabbage works best, but you can also use red cabbage.
- Air fryer – Pour ¼ cup of water into the bottom of the basket (under the grates), then place one or two steaks (coated in sauce) in the basket. Air fry at 360ºF for 8 to 10 minutes or so, until slightly crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Repeat with remaining cabbage.
Worship: 1Slice of meat | Calories: 136kcal | Sugars: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated fats: 7g | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 532IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg