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Jamaican Cabbage Recipe

My Jamaican cabbage recipe is a family favorite recipe. Extra veggies are perfectly cooked, and the Scotch bonnet pepper adds a touch of heat, and a burst of fresh thyme, transforming the humble cabbage into something special.

Jamaican steamed cabbage in a bowl with serving spoon


 

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

My family loves cabbage, which I like to include in my family meal plans most weeks. This easy cabbage can be prepared and cooked in no time, making it a go-to recipe for busy weeknight dinners.

The addition of a Scotch bonnet pepper adds a nice fiery twist, elevating the flavor of the cabbage in this traditional Jamaican side dish.

This recipe is courtesy of my mother, who made us this flavorful dish weekly. We like to serve it along with our favorite Jamaican recipes, like oxtail or curry chicken.

What is Jamaican cabbage?

This authentic Jamaican cabbage recipe steams the cabbage with other vegetables, a Scotch bonnet pepper, and a few fragrant sprigs of fresh thyme. This is a stable side dish in Jamaican cooking, it uses ingredients that are not only easy to find in most stores but affordable too.

Ingredients

Jamaican steamed cabbage ingredients

You can find these simple ingredients in your local grocery store. Here is what you will need for this recipe.  

  • Head of cabbage – We typically use green cabbage for this recipe.
  • Carrots
  • Roma tomato
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Green onions
  • Fresh thyme
  • Scotch bonnet pepper (or habanero pepper)
  • Water
  • Olive oil
  • Unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

How to make Jamaican steamed cabbage 

This simple side dish can be prepared, cooked, and on the table in less than 20 minutes, which makes this a winning side any day of the week. Here are the directions for making this easy 3-step dish. You can also print this out using the recipe card below.

Add all ingredients to a large pan over medium heat and cover with a lid. 

Jamaican cabbage ingredients in a skillet

Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Jamaican cabbage in a skillet with a glass lid

After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes until the cabbage is soft and tender. Remove from heat and remove the stalks of thyme before serving.

Jamaican cabbage in a skillet

Expert Tips

These tips will help you make the best Jamaican steamed cabbage you’ve ever tried. 

  • The longer you cook your cabbage, the more it will soften. For crunchier cabbage, cook for 6-8 minutes; for softer cabbage, cook for about 10-12 minutes.
  • This dish is best served immediately while it’s still hot so the cabbage does not overcook.
  • If you don’t like too much heat in your food, cut back on the Scotch bonnet pepper, or leave it out altogether. You can also use a milder chili pepper if you prefer, or substitute the pepper with habanero pepper.   
  • To keep the carrot thin, use a vegetable peeler to thinly slice the carrot.

Variations 

This steamed cabbage recipe can be easily adapted to suit your tastes. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.  

  • Adapt the heat level in your dish by adding or reducing the amount of Scotch bonnet pepper or simply leaving it out.
  • For those who like their food really spicy, add cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce for a little extra heat.
  • Buy pre-cut cabbage to cut down on prep time.
  • A teaspoon of paprika adds a hint of smoky flavor to the cabbage.  
  • Add extra depth of flavor by adding 1-2 allspice berries.
  • Vary the vegetables and add some colorful bell peppers
  • Make it a one-pot meal by adding protein, like thinly sliced chicken, shrimp, or saltfish.
Closeup of Jamaican steamed cabbage

What kind of cabbage to use 

There are many different types of cabbage, and they can all work with this dish. I prefer green cabbage but use whatever cabbage you have on hand.

Some options include napa cabbage or red cabbage. They all have slightly different flavors and textures, so you can play with them to see which one you like best.

Napa cabbage is softer and milder, red cabbage is more bitter and crunchier, and green cabbage sits between the two.

It’s worth noting that a softer napa cabbage will cook a little quicker, whereas a crunchy red cabbage will take a little longer, so adapt cooking times to suit the variety of cabbage you use.

Jamaican steamed cabbage in a bowl with serving spoon

How to adjust this steamed cabbage recipe  

This recipe serves six but can be easily adapted to make a bigger or smaller batch. Here are the best ways to do this. 

Double: To make a large batch of this cabbage, double all the ingredients; just make sure to use a big enough pan or cast iron skillet. If you don’t have a big sauté pan, you can use a large dutch oven instead.

Halve: If you’re only serving one or two people and don’t need as many servings, you can cut the ingredients in half. Keep an eye on the cooking time as it will cook faster when there’s less cabbage in the pan.

What meat goes well with steamed cabbage? 

If you want to serve this tender cabbage recipe with your favorite protein, you can absolutely do so!

This easy side dish is versatile and also pairs well with pork chops, chicken, sausages, steaks, and rich and hearty stews.

It also works well with fish and vegetable-based dishes, and I’ve included some serving suggestions below.  

Jamaican steamed cabbage in a bowl with serving spoon

How to serve this steamed cabbage recipe  

Jamaican steamed cabbage is easy to make and can be served with a variety of different main dishes, including meat, fish and vegetable-based dishes.

Try it with my Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken, or Jamaican Rice and Peas.

It also makes a great low-carb alternative to rice when served alongside stews and curries.

If you love cabbage as much as I do, here are some other great cabbage side options to serve with dinner, including my fried cabbage, instant pot buttered cabbage, sweet and sour cabbage, or Jamaican corned beef and cabbage.

How to store 

To refrigerate: Keep any leftover cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can reheat it in a small bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments until it’s warm all the way through.

To meal prep: This is a great recipe to prep ahead of time; all you need to do is steam right before you’re ready to eat. Slice the cabbage and prepare the other ingredients earlier in the day, then follow the instructions on the recipe card when ready to cook. 

Jamaican steamed cabbage in a bowl with serving spoon

FAQs:

How do you cut cabbage for steaming?

For this recipe, I prefer to slice the cabbage, but you can also shred or chop the cabbage. Keep in mind that thinner shredded or finely chopped cabbage will cook faster.

Should you wash cabbage before steaming?

I always rinse the outer layers of cabbage before chopping and cooking. Just be sure to shake off any excess water after rinsing.

Do you need to soak cabbage before steaming it?

There’s no need to soak cabbage before you cook it. It will be slightly crunchier if it’s not soaked beforehand.

How long does it take for cabbage to steam?

The longer you cook your cabbage, the more it will soften. For crunchier cabbage, cook for 6-8 minutes; for softer cabbage, cook for about 10-12 minutes.

If you have tried this Jamaican cabbage recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

Jamaican steamed cabbage in a bowl with serving spoon
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4.80 from 39 votes

Jamaican Steamed Cabbage

Jamaican steamed cabbage is a family favorite. Extra veggies add crunch, the Scotch bonnet pepper adds a touch of heat, along with a burst of fresh thyme.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Jamaican
Keyword Jamaican cabbage, Jamaican steamed cabbage
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 152kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cabbage sliced, about 4 cups
  • 2 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 1 Roma tomato chopped
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 4 green onions chopped
  • 4 stalks thyme
  • 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper seeds and stem remove and chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a large pan over medium heat and cover with a lid.
  • Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes, until the cabbage is soft and tender. Remove from the heat and remove the stalks of thyme before serving.

Notes

  • The longer you cook your cabbage, the more it will soften. It comes down to taste, so cook for 6-8 minutes for crunchier cabbage. For softer cabbage, cook for 10-12 minutes.
  • The heat in this cabbage side is easily adapted to suit tastes by adding or reducing the amount of Scotch bonnet pepper you add to the dish. If you don’t like your food spicy, you can leave it out altogether.
  • To keep the carrot thin, use a vegetable peeler to slice the carrot thinly.
  • This recipe uses kosher salt. If using table salt, reduce the amount of salt suggested. 

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 807mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3912IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg
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4.80 from 39 votes (25 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Alyssa

Thursday 3rd of October 2024

So easy and soooo good!! Thank you!

Tanya

Friday 4th of October 2024

Thanks so much, Alyssa.

Patricia

Monday 26th of August 2024

Great and easy recipe

Tanya

Monday 26th of August 2024

Thanks Patricia, so happy you like the recipe :)

Amanda

Tuesday 25th of June 2024

Love this cabbage. Made for 1st time tonight 06/24/2024 Already subscribed to your daily emails

Tanya

Wednesday 26th of June 2024

Thanks Amanda! So happy you liked the cabbage recipe :)

Yvette

Sunday 19th of May 2024

I made this cabbage recipe along with your Jamaican oxtail and rice and peas recipes. Let me tell you, my husband was licking his fingers. Two weeks later, guess what he wants for dinner. Thanks for sharing these amazing recipes with us!!!!

Tanya

Sunday 19th of May 2024

Thanks so much Yvette! So happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed the recipe.

Nishat

Saturday 18th of May 2024

I made this tonight alongside oxtail and rice and peas. This was absolutely delicious and so simple to make. Thank you x