USA · Vegetable and Mushroom Dishes

Cabbage Boil (Whole Baked Cabbage with Spiced Butter)

A cabbage boil is a viral American dish: a whole head of green cabbage, cored, packed with garlic and cajun spiced butter, and baked until a knife slides through the centre without resistance.

110 min✻6 servings✻210 kcal
Cabbage Boil (Whole Baked Cabbage with Spiced Butter)

Ingredients

  • small green cabbage (1–1.2 kg)1 pcs
  • butter120 g
  • cajun seasoning1 tbsp
  • smoked paprika2 tsp
  • garlic5 cloves
  • salt1 tsp
  • vegetable stock200 ml
  • lemon1 pcs
  • chili flakes1 tsp
  • parsley1 bunch

Method

  1. 1Heat the oven to 190°C. Take a small head of green cabbage (1–1.2 kg) and peel away any loose or damaged outer leaves, then cut a deep cone out of the base to remove the core, leaving a cavity about the size of a small cup. Keep the head otherwise intact.
  2. 2Soften the butter and mash it with the crushed garlic, cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, chili flakes and 1 tsp salt until it is an even, spreadable paste.
  3. 3Sit the cabbage core-side up in a deep baking dish or cast iron pan. Pack about two thirds of the spiced butter down into the cavity, pushing it in as far as it will go.
  4. 4Smear the remaining butter over the outside of the head, working it between the outer leaves wherever they part naturally so the seasoning reaches past the surface.
  5. 5Pour the vegetable stock into the bottom of the dish around the cabbage — not over it. The liquid stops the base scorching and generates steam while the top roasts.
  6. 6Cover tightly with foil and bake 60 minutes. Then remove the foil, baste the head with the butter and stock pooled in the dish, and bake a further 25–35 minutes until the outer leaves are browned and a knife slides into the centre with no resistance.
  7. 7Rest 10 minutes, then cut into wedges through the top so each one carries some of the buttery centre. Squeeze over the lemon, scatter with chopped parsley, and spoon the pan juices back over.