Cabbage is a popular leafy vegetable in Vietnam, especially during the winter and spring seasons. Cabbage is not only easy to eat and cook many delicious dishes with, but it is also rich in vitamin C and minerals like potassium, calcium, and vitamin K. Cabbage is praised as a precious vegetable during the winter season. In particular, cabbage has a high content of folic acid and is known as the “king of folic acid,” which helps prevent anemia and maintain cardiovascular health. The folic acid content in cabbage is 38 times higher than that of an apple. Adding cabbage to daily meals in the winter helps boost immunity and prevent many diseases. Moreover, cabbage is very affordable, with just 5000 VND, you can turn it into a plate of boiled or stir-fried vegetables for the whole family to enjoy. Cabbage also has a sweet and easy-to-eat taste.
Great benefits of cabbage:
1. Blood-boosting and red blood cell production: The iron and folic acid in cabbage help promote the formation of red blood cells, thereby preventing the symptoms of anemia. Eating cabbage is a good source of folic acid, which helps enhance blood health.
2. Cancer prevention: Cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables are believed to have the ability to prevent cancer cells in the body. Cabbage stimulates enzymes to inhibit the growth rate of tumors. Research in China has also shown that women who consume a certain amount of vegetables such as cabbage and kale reduce the risk of breast cancer symptoms.
3. Good for the heart: The potassium content in cabbage helps regulate blood pressure, prevent clogged blood vessels, and reduce the risk of sudden high blood pressure. Cabbage also helps with diuresis, which helps control blood pressure better.
4. Boosts immune system: Not only fruits like oranges, grapes, or apples contain a lot of vitamin C, but cabbage also has a high content of this vitamin, which helps develop a stronger immune system.
5. Supports weight loss: Cabbage is one of the top recommended vegetables for weight loss because it is high in fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals, but low in calories.
6. Detoxifies the body: Due to its high vitamin C and sulfur content, cabbage can help eliminate toxins from the body. Cabbage also helps support the reduction of joint pain and gout symptoms. Cabbage also cools and refreshes the skin.
7. Good for the brain: Cabbage is rich in vitamin K and potassium, which are good for memory. Cabbage also contains anthocyanin antioxidants that can promote mental health and concentration in the brain. These nutrients can also prevent nerve damage, preventing Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Therefore, cabbage is very beneficial for the health of your brain.
8. Promotes digestion and prevents constipation: Like the benefits of other vegetables, cabbage is also a vegetable that helps with easy bowel movements due to its high fiber content.
9. Good for pregnant women, postpartum women, and fetuses: Folic acid is very important for the development of the fetus, so eating cabbage helps support the nutritional needs of folic acid for pregnant women. Postpartum women can also use cabbage on their breasts to treat breast engorgement.
Delicious dishes made from cabbage:
The simplest way to cook cabbage is to boil it and add a little ginger and seasoning to create a refreshing and non-greasy dish, especially during the end of the year when there are many festive gatherings. In addition, you can refer to the following 3 ways to cook cabbage, which are delicious and unique:
Recipe 1: Cabbage Egg Pancake
Ingredients: Cabbage, 2 eggs, a moderate amount of salt, five-spice powder, and a sufficient amount of cooking oil
Instructions:
Wash the cabbage and slice it into thin strands, then put it in a large bowl. Add 2 eggs, a moderate amount of salt, and five-spice powder to the bowl, stir well to create a flour mixture.
– Heat the frying pan and add a moderate amount of cooking oil. Pour the prepared flour mixture into the pan evenly and fry over low heat until both sides turn golden. Use a spatula to flip and fry the other side.
This cabbage egg pancake is not only easy to make, but also crispy, delicious, and nutritious, making it a great choice for breakfast.
Recipe 2: Cabbage, Glass Noodles, and Egg Bun
Ingredients: Cabbage, glass noodles, 2 eggs, salt, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and cooking oil.
Instructions:
– Rinse the cabbage, drain the water, and finely chop it. Soak the glass noodles in boiling water until soft, then cut them into short pieces.
Beat the eggs in a bowl, add a moderate amount of salt, and whisk well. Heat a moderate amount of cooking oil in a pan, pour the beaten eggs into the pan, fry until cooked, then cut them into small pieces.
– Add the chopped cabbage, cut glass noodles, and stir-fried eggs into a bowl. Add a moderate amount of salt, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and cooking oil, and stir well to create the filling for the buns.
– Prepare a suitable amount of wheat flour, add a suitable amount of yeast, add water, and knead the dough. After kneading into a dough, let it rise until the dough doubles in size.
Knead the dough into a roll and then cut it into pieces. Then shape the dough into buns and fill them with the filling.
Steam the finished buns in a steamer for 20 minutes. This dish is soft, chewy, and has a lot of filling, making it a delicious and satisfying homemade meal, suitable for breakfast or dinner. Especially, the filling contains cabbage, which adds a refreshing and sweet taste, making it very delicious.
Recipe 3: Stir-fried Garlic Cabbage
Ingredients: Cabbage, garlic, dried red chili, ginger, salt, oyster sauce, and cooking oil.
Instructions:
– Wash the cabbage, drain the water, and tear it into moderate-sized pieces. Finely chop the garlic and ginger, cut the dried chili into sections, and set them aside.
Heat a suitable amount of cooking oil in a pan, add the garlic, ginger, and dried chili to stir-fry until fragrant, then add the cabbage and stir-fry evenly. Add a suitable amount of salt and oyster sauce, continue to stir-fry until the vegetables are cooked.
This type of cabbage, which is torn by hand, will retain the original taste of cabbage, with a refreshing and cool taste, suitable for eating with rice. It is a delicious homemade dish that is very suitable for your home.
Recipe 4: Cabbage Pickle
Ingredients: Cabbage, garlic, chili, ginger, cilantro, coriander, carrots, rock salt, and spring onion
Instructions:
– Rinse the cabbage, cilantro, and carrots. Cut the cabbage into small pieces, slice the cilantro, and cut the carrots into thin slices or shredded. Chop the spring onion, cilantro, and coriander into small pieces. Then blanch them in boiling water and let them cool, adding rock salt.
– Prepare a sour water mixture: Boil and let it cool, add salt, a little sugar, and a little vinegar… Put the vegetable mixture into a glass or ceramic jar. Pour the salt water, press the vegetables down so they don’t float on the surface. Let it sit for about 2-3 days until the pickles are sour and ready to eat.
Note: There are flat and round cabbage varieties. The flat variety is Vietnamese cabbage, which is softer and sweeter to eat compared to round cabbage.