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It might sound humble, but boiled cabbage is absolutely delicious! Swirl it with butter and salt for an easy and healthy side dish.

Boiled cabbage might sound humble, but here’s the thing: it can be absolutely delicious. A friend of ours mentioned this to us in passing once: “I added butter and salt to boiled cabbage, and I couldn’t stop eating it!” We had to test it for ourselves: and we agree! Boiling makes perfectly tender cabbage, and a little salt and butter makes this cruciferous vegetable taste surprisingly irresistible. Here’s how to boil cabbage so it tastes delightful.

Another great way to cook cabbage? Try Sauteed Cabbage.

The type of cabbage for boiled cabbage

The best type of cabbage to make boiled cabbage? A large head of green cabbage. While this method works with red cabbage too, we prefer it with the sweeter flavor of the green variety. Save other types of cabbage like Savoy and Napa cabbage for eating raw in salads (like this one).

Best way to shred cabbage

The hardest part about making boiled cabbage? Shredding the cabbage! Ever had trouble cutting even pieces of this vegetable? If you don’t know the right method, you can end up with lots of mess and uneven pieces. Here’s the trick we use for cutting a head of this veggie:

Slice off the root: Remove any outer layers of the cabbage that seem tough or are not fresh, and discard them. With a large chef’s knife, slice off the root of the cabbage.
Quarter it: Slice the cabbage in half through the stem. Then cut it into quarters.
Slice out the root: Remove the root of the cabbage by cutting it out with two diagonal slices.
Slice crosswise: Thinly slice the cabbage in the short direction, using a circular motion with the knife.

How to boil cabbage: master method

How long does it take to boil cabbage? It depends on if they’re cut into wedges or shredded. You’ll want to make sure you don’t overcook cabbage: it becomes limp and makes an unpleasant aroma.

Shredded cabbage takes 12 to 15 minutes to boil, when dropped into a large pot of salted boiling water.
Test whether the cabbage is cooked by tasting a bite of one of the leaves (after blowing on it, of course!). Be careful not to overcook. If it tastes very tender, it’s done!
Drain and season. Drain the cabbage in a strainer, then add salted butter or olive oil, salt and pepper. Voila!

More boiled recipes? Try Boiled Brussels Sprouts or Boiled Red Potatoes.

Seasoning boiled cabbage

Boiled cabbage tastes great with the simplest of seasonings: just butter and salt! But if you like, you can get a little fancier. But we’d recommend going simple with it: it doesn’t need fancy herbs or add-ins! Here’s what we’d recommend:

Salted butter or olive oil
Chopped chives
Finely chopped parsley
Red pepper flakes
Lemon juice

Keep the flavors simple, and it tastes amazing! One note: make sure to salt to taste. Every cabbage has a slightly different size, so you’ll need varying levels of salt. Make sure to salt it until the flavor pops: but not so much that it tastes salty.

Make it a meal: ways to serve it!

Boiled cabbage can complete nearly any meal! It’s a healthy vegetable that is low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber (source). Here are a few ideas for adding it to meals:

Fish: Try with Pistachio Crusted Salmon, Lemon Dill Salmon, Easy Seared Salmon, Pan Fried Cod, or Seared Ahi Tuna
Shellfish: Add to Easy Cajun Shrimp, Easy Baked Shrimp, or Perfect Sauteed Shrimp
Pasta: Try with Lemon Pasta or Lemon Ricotta Pasta, Cajun Shrimp Pasta, Mushroom Pasta with Parmesan, Creamy Shrimp Pasta or Baked Rigatoni Pasta
Tofu: Add Pan Fried Tofu, Easy BBQ Tofu or Quick Tofu Crumbles

More cabbage recipes

Love cabbage? This cruciferous vegetable has our hearts. Here are a few more great ways to use it:

Make Perfect Sauteed Cabbage or Easy Steamed Cabbage
Mix up a fresh and Easy Cabbage Salad
Opt for Best Coleslaw or Red Cabbage Slaw
Try Grilled Cabbage Wedges or Roasted Cabbage Wedges
Go DIY with Homemade Sauerkraut

This boiled cabbage recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based or dairy-free, use olive oil.