Easy Creamed Cabbage Recipe: How to Make Creamed Cabbage

Creamed cabbage is an appetizer or side dish consisting of shredded cabbage cooked down in a buttery béchamel sauce, similar to creamed spinach. This veggie with a leafy green, red, or white appearance grows in densely formed heads and cooks down perfectly to absorb the flavors of a variety of sauces. Diners traditionally enjoy this side dish with corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day.

Home cooks of all levels will be able to craft this low-carb, gluten-free vegetable side dish successfully. Follow these tips to make the most of your creamy cabbage:

1. 1. Choose the right produce. Pick out cabbage that is bright in color and heavy with tightly packed leaves. Discard any wilted outer leaves before cooking. For white or red cabbage—which are firmer than green—consider trimming out the tough part of the stem or core first.
2. 2. Salt liberally. Cabbage will release lots of liquid into your cream sauce as it cooks, but adding salt will curb the sweating as the veggie cooks down. Taste the béchamel sauce before, during, and after adding the cabbage. Add additional salt as necessary to offset the added moisture and flavor the sauce.
3. 3. Experiment with additions. Customize this simple recipe by incorporating various spices, herbs, or other tasty additions to your shopping list. Spices like cayenne pepper, nutmeg, paprika, and mustard powder lend heat and zestiness to the dish. Grated Parmesan cheese makes for an extra savory and cheesy mixture. Dried or fresh herbs, like rosemary, thyme, and dill, add bright, herbaceous flavor to this rich sauce. Fold cooked bacon, corned beef, smoked sausage, or ground beef into the cabbage mixture for some meaty flavor. For some textural contrast, top the dish with fried onions.
4. 4. Change the dish format. Instead of preparing this dish on the stovetop, bake it in the oven as a creamed cabbage casserole. Add the ingredients to a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs before roasting for a crispy, golden-brown dish. Alternatively, cook the creamed cabbage in a slow cooker for an easy weeknight side dish.