Charred cabbage with salsa, parsley, and nuts
Charred cabbage with salsa, parsley, and nuts – salsa smothered deliciously charred cabbage topped with crunchy nuts and parsley. This easy tasty grilled cabbage recipe is a vegan grill dream come true. We’re talking smoky saucy charred cabbage bathed in my favorite easy vegan salsa…it’s a mega flavor combo as the blackened cabbage on the outside enhances the tenderness of the silky cooked cabbage and all that Caramelized blackened deliciousness is paired with hot salsa. Yum!
Jump to RecipeYou can make this easy versatile blackened cabbage on the grill, or use a cast iron skillet like I did to make this tasty cabbage dish. I like to cover the pan with a lid and let the steam sauté the cabbage to tenderness.
This tasty cabbage recipe is a low-carb side dish featuring perfectly charred, slightly nutty, and deliciously tender easy-to-make grilled cabbage. Yes, we’re making the humble cabbage the star of the show. With thick slices of cabbage rubbed in olive oil and simple Mediterranean seasoning, grilled to caramelized sweetness. And don’t even get me started on those irresistible charred textured wrinkly cabbage edges. All I can say is ‘yum’.
Why this has been named the best-charred cabbage recipe by everyone who’s made it
- Easy to make
- Super tasty, ultra-rich nutty roasted flavors
- A healthy low-carb meal
- Gluten-free
- Vegan and incredibly saucy
- Meal prep friendly
- Tender silky cabbage grilled to charred wrinkly deliciousness
- A crowd-pleaser recipe
Tips and tricks for making the best-charred cabbage
- Don’t be afraid to char the cabbage extra, it adds the best crunch.
- If you’re using the microwave to pre-tenderize the cabbage, sprinkle the cabbage with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in, or cover with a microwave-safe lid, then microwave until desired tenderness is reached in 30-second intervals.
- If you’re using a large head of cabbage either pre-cook the cabbage and then char it on the grill… after charring the cabbage in a cast iron skillet or on the grill, cover it and stick the cabbage in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. It will produce a perfectly tender charred cabbage with just a pleasant bit of bite left.
Ingredients for making the best simple charred cabbage with vegan dressing
Cabbage – 1 medium head of green cabbage (about 2 lb.) or 2-3 heads of smaller pointed-head cabbage cut into slices. This recipe takes a humble cabbage and turns it into a deliciously grilled centerpiece.
Salsa – I used my favorite homemade vegan salsa as the dressing, but you can easily use your preferred salsa as topping.
Seasoning – thyme, salt, and pepper make the simple seasoning for this tasty blackened cabbage. We don’t want to use too much seasoning as we want to taste the delicious charred cabbage. The rest of the spice hit comes from the salsa.
Parsley – or any other fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or mint leaves. Chop the herbs roughly and sprinkle them generously on top of the grilled cabbage before serving. The herbs bring out the nutty flavors of the charred cabbage in the best way.
Nuts – I like to use roasted salted cashews, roughly chopped and generously sprinkled on top of the cabbage before serving. If you don’t have cashews in the kitchen, you can substitute them with any other roasted salted nuts like almonds, peanuts, pecans…or your preferred nuts. If you’re allergic to nuts simply leave them out or replace them with crunchy croutons or sesame seeds.
How to make charred cabbage
Pre-tenderizing the cabbage in a microwave
Place the sliced cabbage in a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in, or cover with a microwave-safe lid, then microwave until desired tenderness is reached in 30-second intervals.
Making the cabbage in a skillet
Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe heavy-based frying pan over high heat until smoking hot. Fry the cabbage wedges in batches for 3-4 minutes on each cut side until well charred. (If you have pre-cooked the cabbage in the microwave you can skip to the last step).
Cover the pan with a lid and let the steam cook the cabbage tender for 10-15 minutes. It will produce a perfectly tender charred cabbage with just a pleasant bit of bite left. Season with thyme, pepper, and salt.
Pour the salsa over the cabbage during the last 2 minutes of cooking to lightly caramelize it.
Serve with a generous topping of salsa, fresh parsley, and chopped nuts.
Grilling cabbage
Prepare the grill for medium-high heat. Cut cabbage in half through the core; cut each half into 3 wedges, keeping the core intact. (If you like a tender cooked cabbage pre-cook in the microwave or oven before grilling).
Drizzle with 3 Tbsp. oil and rub to coat. Season with thyme, pepper, and salt.
Place the oiled cabbage on the grill and grill until it’s deeply charred on the cut sides. Once a paring knife slides easily through the center the cabbage is ready (it should take 6–8 minutes per side).
Transfer the charred cabbage to a cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes.
Pour the salsa over the cabbage during the last 2 minutes of cooking to lightly caramelize it.
Serve with a generous topping of salsa, fresh parsley, and chopped nuts.
What to serve with charred grilled cabbage
The tasty sticky sauce is a delicious mish-mash of flavors making it a great fit for multiple styles of recipes and cuisines. I like it with a fluffy bed of couscous or my favorite lentil salad.
But these tasty charred cabbages are also amazing with just a delicious BBQ dip and a side of French fries.
Or try them with a side of one of my favorite salads or sides and make it the star of your dinner.
- Easy Mediterranean risotto
- Spanish white bean salad
- Easy Greek salad
- Summer couscous salad
- Maple roasted potatoes
Other dressings and sauces you can serve with blackened cabbage
These tasty plant-based grilled cabbage slices are amazing just as is. But they’re also fantastic served with a delicious dip.
Here are my top 5 dips to serve with tasty gluten-free vegan charred cabbage:
- Easy vegan 5-minute aioli
- The best vegan queso
- My favorite peanut sauce dip
- Easy pesto sauce – grab my favorite pesto from this recipe
- Hoisin sauce
FAQs – All your charred cabbage questions answered
Yes. Charred cabbage is great and made in advance.
Yes. This easy blacked cabbage can be eaten both cold and warm.
You can store this charred cabbage in the fridge in a tightly-closed container for 5 days or so.
Yes, this easy-roasted Mediterranean cabbage is great when made in advance. Its hearty rustic textures and savory seasonings make it taste delicious whether eaten right away or several days later.
You can reheat charred cabbage in several ways
The oven way: Reheat the cabbage in a casserole dish covered with tinfoil for 20 minutes at 400F, or until the cabbage is heated all the way through.
The microwave way: Place the cabbage in a microwave-safe container. Cover with a lid and reheat at a high temperature for 2 minutes. Check if the cabbage is heated all the way through, then reheat them one more minute if necessary. Check again, and continue heating in intervals until the cabbage is hot.
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Charred cabbage with salsa, parsley, and nuts
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil plus more for drizzling (optional)
- 1 medium Head of Cabbage (about 2 lb.) or 2-3 heads of smaller pointed-head cabbage
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Dried Thyme
- 8 tbsp Salsa Sauce
- ½ cup Salted Roasted Nuts cashews, almonds, peanuts, or your preferred nuts
- 1 handful Fresh Parsley chopped
Instructions
Pre-tenderizing the cabbage in a microwave
- Place the sliced cabbage in a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with a couple of tablespoons of water, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in, or cover with a microwave-safe lid, then microwave until desired tenderness is reached in 30-second intervals.
Making the cabbage in a skillet
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe heavy-based frying pan over high heat until smoking hot. Fry the cabbage wedges in batches for 3-4 minutes on each cut side until well charred. (If you have pre-cooked the cabbage in the microwave you can skip to the last step).
- Cover the pan with a lid and let the steam cook the cabbage tender for 10-15 minutes. It will produce a perfectly tender charred cabbage with just a pleasant bit of bite left. Season with thyme, pepper, and salt.
- Pour the salsa over the cabbage during the last 2 minutes of cooking to lightly caramelize it. Serve with a generous topping of salsa, fresh parsley, and chopped nuts.
Grilling
- Prepare the grill for medium-high heat. Cut cabbage in half through the core; cut each half into 3 wedges, keeping the core intact. (If you like a tender cooked cabbage pre-cook in the microwave or oven before grilling).
- Drizzle with 3 Tbsp. oil and rub to coat. Season with thyme, pepper, and salt. Place the oiled cabbage on the grill and grill until it’s deeply charred on the cut sides. Once a paring knife slides easily through the center the cabbage is ready (it should take 6–8 minutes per side).
- Transfer the charred cabbage to a cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes.Pour the salsa over the cabbage during the last 2 minutes of cooking to lightly caramelize it. Serve with a generous topping of salsa, fresh parsley, and chopped nuts.
