Italian Cabbage Food

ITALIAN CABBAGE

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy bottom skillet over medium heat and add a good lug of olive oil.
• Add the sliced onions and a pinch of sea salt. As the onion starts to soften and release its water content turn up the heat so the liquid evaporates and the onion starts to get some color.
• Pan fry the onions until nicely golden with crispy edges. Stir in the chili flakes if using. Add 1 tablespoon of the fennel seeds and toast with the onion until fragrant.
• Stir in the smoked paprika and tomato paste and cook for a few minutes until the sugars begin to caramelize.
• Add the shredded cabbage, season with a pinch of salt and black pepper then mix everything well, scraping any brown bits from the bottom.
• Stir in the liquid smoke if using and cook down the cabbage until wilted and softened and the sugars start to caramelize again on the bottom. You want little golden bits only so be careful not to burn it.
• Push the mixture to the side and add a light drop of olive oil to toast the remaining fennel seeds and infuse a new layer of flavor into your dish.
• Stir in the cannellini beans and toss to coat well. Cook only until warmed through. Adjust seasonings and serve with fresh parsley or dill, fresh bread or bruschetta.

ITALIAN CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, whisk together stock and tomato paste. Stir in vegetables, beans, garlic and seasonings. Cook, covered, on low until vegetables are tender, 6-8 hours., Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf. If desired, serve with cheese.

ITALIAN CABBAGE SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk oil, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper together until emulsified.
• Toss cabbage and red onion together in a salad bowl. Drizzle dressing over the salad; toss to coat.
• Refrigerate salad 1 hour before serving.

ITALIAN CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place cabbage in a steamer basket; place in a large saucepan over 1 in. of water. Bring to a boil; cover and steam for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside., In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the beef, green pepper and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes., Place half of the cabbage in an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray; top with half of beef mixture. Repeat layers (dish will be full). Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through., Serve immediately or before baking, cover and freeze casserole for up to 3 months., To use frozen casserole: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until heated through.

ITALIAN-STYLE ROAST CABBAGE WEDGES WITH TOMATO LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and blanch the potatoes for 10-12 mins until tender, then drain and leave to cool.
• For the cabbage, mix together the oil and garlic, rub all over the wedges, season, then spread out on a large baking tray. Roast on the top shelf for 15 mins.
• While the cabbage is cooking, put the new potatoes onto a large baking tray and gently crush with the back of a spoon or a masher, so they split open slightly. Drizzle over the oil and some seasoning, then stir in the lemon zest. Once the cabbage has had 15 mins, put the potatoes on the top shelf of the oven and move the cabbage to the bottom. Cook for 45 mins, turning everything halfway through.
• For the lentils, heat the oil in a medium saucepan and fry the onions and celery until soft and translucent, about 10-15 mins. Tip in the lentils, tomatoes, 450ml water, stock cubes, tomato purée and vinegar, bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 30-35 mins, stirring occasionally until the lentils are soft and cooked through. If the mixture gets a little dry, add a splash of water to stop it sticking. Stir in the basil and an extra 50ml boiling water to loosen the mixture. Season well.
• While the lentils are cooking, make the pangrattato. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, fry the garlic and chilli for 30 seconds, then add the breadcrumbs. Toast until golden and crunchy, then tip in the lemon zest and olives and fry for a further 3 mins. Set aside to cool.
• To serve, spoon lentils onto each plate, put a cabbage wedge on top and sprinkle over the pangrattato. Garnish with the extra basil and serve the potatoes on the side.

ITALIAN CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook and stir bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until browned and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and drain grease from Dutch oven.
• Cook and stir Italian sausage in Dutch oven until browned and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour beef broth into Dutch oven and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Stir celery, onion, carrot, Italian seasoning, coriander, garlic, black pepper, and sea salt into beef broth mixture; bring to a simmer and cook until vegetables are tender and liquid is reduced, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir cabbage, apple, and cooked bacon into vegetable mixture; cook until cabbage and apples are tender and desired consistency is reached, 30 to 45 minutes.

ITALIAN-STYLE CABBAGE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine red cabbage, parsley and capers in large bowl.
• Whisk oil, vinegar, 2 tablespoons water and garlic in small bowl to blend. Add to cabbage mixture and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared up to 3 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

RIBOLLITA (REBOILED ITALIAN CABBAGE SOUP)

Steps:

• Sort and rinse the beans before placing them in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook 5 minutes. Turn off heat, cover, and let stand 1 1/2 hours. Drain.
• Place the beans, chicken broth, garlic, sage leaves, bay leaves, and salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until beans are tender, about 2 hours. Cool. Remove 1 cup of beans. Discard the bay leaves and sage leaves. Blend the remaining bean mixture with a hand mixer until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until transparent, about 10 minutes. Combine the carrots, celery, potatoes, cabbage, Swiss chard, and kale with the onions. Stir in the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and cook until greens have wilted, stirring at least once, about 20 minutes. Stir in the pureed bean mixture, and cook 40 minute until the mixture thickens. Stir in the reserved beans. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add the toasted bread slices; cook until bread is soaked, about 10 minutes longer. Cool, and refrigerate overnight.
• Reheat the soup over low heat until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve each serving garnished with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.