Indian Spiced Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

This is like a spicy pickled red cabbage that is served hot.  The cabbage isn’t overcooked so it keeps its crunchy texture and beautiful deep magenta colour. It is  lovely served as a side dish with any curry but specifically, in my opinion, with a dhal.

Dhals are soft, soupy lentil dishes. My idea of comfort food heaven. Best eaten scooped up in a piece of soft Indian bread or even just with a spoon. The crunchiness of this cabbage is the perfect accompaniment to the smooth, creamy dhal. The contrast of textures and flavours is gorgeous, it just works.

Indian Spiced Red Cabbage

Serves 6, as a side dish, vegan, gluten-free

• 2 tsp coconut oil (or veg oil)
• 2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 4 or 5 curry leaves (optional)
• 1 small red cabbage, cored finely sliced
• 1 red onion, finely sliced
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tsp minced ginger
• a handful of green beans, trimmed and halved (optional)
• 2 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
• salt & black pepper

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and add in the seeds and curry leaves. When they start to pop add the onion, saute for about 4 minutes then add the garlic, ginger and chilli. Cook for another minute.

Now add in the green beans, stir for a minute and then add the red cabbage. Stir in the sugar and vinegar and season well with salt and black pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes until you are happy with the texture. Taste and adjust the sweetness with more sugar, the sourness with more vinegar until it is well balanced and add salt if needed. Serve sprinkled with extra sesame seeds.

This can be served immediately or left in the fridge, covered for a few days quite happily. It is equally good served at room temperature as part of a buffet. Great for this time of year with cheeses or cold meats.

I served it with my sweet potato dhal and will be posting the recipe over the next few days.

These are some of the things that I saw and collected while walking the dog….

And this is what I made with them. A Christmas arrangement made out of mainly dead things…

This was my inspiration for making my own Christmas wreath for the front door……..

And this is how it turned out…..

I’m really pleased, I even surprised myself. It’s not as hard as you might think!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

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