A new, smokey way to prepare cabbage that you’ll instantly love!
There are several ways to cook vegetables, but smoking them isn’t one method that most people explore. But if you have a smoker and wood chips at home, it’s something worth trying. I can’t guarantee it’ll be useful with every type of vegetable, but it will certainly work with cabbage! Other than prepping the smoker, cutting the cabbage, and spreading on a little seasoning, this is a super simple side dish to make, so there’s no reason not to give it a try.
Cabbage doesn’t always have the best reputation, but that’s honestly even more reason to give smoked cabbage a go. The tender bite and light smokey flavor bring out the best of this contentious veggie. Plus, by smoking the cabbage, you don’t have to worry about it becoming soggy, which is another added benefit of preparing cabbage this way.
Is Smoked Cabbage Healthy?
Smoked cabbage is a side dish that works for just about any diet, including vegetarian, vegan, paleo, and keto. Cabbage is low in calories and high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate, and the veggie is thought to benefit heart health, digestion, immune support, and blood pressure regulation. However, smoking can leech some of the water-soluble vitamins out of the cabbage, so you may not be getting as nutritious of a bite as you would otherwise. Eating smoked foods is also best reserved for once in a while, as smoke contains compounds that may be harmful when consumed in excess.
Your Choice Of Cabbage
For smoked cabbage, feel free to use any type of cabbage you like. Typically, green and white varieties of cabbage work best when prepared this way. Whichever variety you choose, make sure you don’t over-smoke it. Keep in mind that it’s a vegetable, not a piece of meat. You want to smoke it long enough to remove some of the bitterness, but you don’t want the smoke to overpower the delicate, earthy taste of the cabbage.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Leftover smoked cabbage can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Serving Suggestions
Smoked cabbage can be served as a side dish with many meals, including barbecue dishes. I’m particularly fond of pairing it with Slow-Cooker Beef Brisket or a hearty Smoked Chicken Breast. Of course, if you want to keep the entire meal vegetarian-friendly, I’d recommend having smoked cabbage as a side dish for some Tofu Tacos or perhaps a Grilled Cauliflower Steak.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head green cabbage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Wood chips for smoking such as hickory or applewood
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees and add wood chips of your choice.
- Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage, cut into quarters, and remove the core.
- In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Brush the seasoning mix over all sides of the cabbage quarters.
- Place the cabbage quarters directly on the smoker rack, cover, and smoke for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender and has a nice smokey flavor.
- Remove the smoked cabbage from the smoker, let it rest for a few minutes, then serve warm.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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