Coconut Cabbage

As much as I love to enjoy cabbage the usual style (bengali style) with green peas and tomato, sometimes I do like to enjoy cabbage differently. And here is a simple and fantastic different style!!

I learnt this recipe from my mom. And it taste quite like hers too!! I am so content with myself :)

Do you know that cabbage has the fewest calories and the least fat of all vegetables? It's a must for anyone trying to lose some weight. Well, for me, in the constant war between food and weight loss, food has always won! So, it's nice to have them both on the same side once in a while.

Cabbage has a strong flavor and with a few spices, it can turn out great! This one has only mustard seeds, cumin seeds, ginger and coconut. That's it. Isn't that simple?

Here is the full list and the method:

Ingredients:

Half a head of a cabbage thinly sliced as shown in picture above [about 6 cups]

½ tbsp cumin seeds

½ tsp mustard seeds

1½ tbsp fresh ginger paste

2 green chills [Can substitute with chili powder]

⅓ cup shredded coconut thawed [I buy frozen shredded coconut from the freezer section of an indian grocery store. Frozen coconut has more sweetness and taste compared to dried coconut that are found on the shelves]

Oil for cooking

Salt

½ tbsp sugar [adjust according to your taste]

Method:

Thinly slice or grate half of a medium sized cabbage head.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the green chills. Add the cumin seeds and the mustard seeds. Wait till they are fragrant and the mustard seeds crack. Add the ginger paste and fry.

When the raw flavor of ginger is gone and fried nice, add only ⅓ of your sliced cabbage. DO NOT ADD SALT. Turn the heat to high and fry the cabbage with constant stirring. When the cabbage is soft, add another ⅓ of the cabbage and stir. After another 2 min add the rest of the cabbage. Not all of the cabbage is added in the beginning to prevent release of water from the cabbage so that it can be stir fried nicely. 

Now add salt.

Add shredded coconut. Since coconut is already sweet, add sugar to the dish accordingly.

If you want the preparation to be spicy, add red chili powder. [I like this a little sweet and hot]

Since the cabbage is very thinly sliced, it will be cooked by now completely. There is no need to add water to this preparation.

Take it off heat and serve with rice/ indian bread (roti).