Jamaican Steamed Cabbage

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Cabbage is a vegetable that can be seen as boring and bland but it does not have to be! Many different cultures have their own take on cabbage and in the Caribbean, lots of fresh herbs go into the pot. This Jamaican steamed cabbage recipe is healthy, may assist in weight loss and is ready in under 20 minutes.

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What you’ll need

As said before, cooking steamed cabbage is very simple. Its also quite versatile and can be made however the person cooking it desires.

Green Cabbage-

Red cabbage is very high in antioxidants and tastes amazing in other dishes but for this recipe, green/white cabbage is best.

Fresh Thyme-

Not the dried stuff in a bottle! I love to add fresh thyme to all my dishes and it tastes exceptional with this Jamaican steamed cabbage recipe.

Scallion (green onion)-

I add scallions to almost everything I cook, they’re just that delicious. They add a fresh taste to every dish they’re in and allow me to create more salt free or less salt dishes.

Carrot-

Its not Jamaican steamed cabbage without the signature touch of carrots! Whether you want to slice them thinly (as I did), shred them, peel them into ribbons with a vegetable peeler, or chop them into large chunks. Include them in the recipe, you’ll thank me later.

Scotch bonnet-

Scotch bonnet pepper is used in lots of Jamaican dishes to add spice but also flavour. If the pepper is not cut or burst, it can make a meal very tasty. But of course, it can be excluded.

Garlic-

Totally optional but adds a great taste to the cabbage. When the fresh herbs are sautéed in oil, the garlic gives it a great aroma.

Onion-

Red or green onions work. I like to cut my onions very thin so they can work well with the cabbage slices.

Seasonings Used

A lot of recipes call for just sea salt (to taste) but I’m a gal of taste and I enjoy my food to be flavourful. While extra seasonings are indeed optional, they 100% kick up the flavor of this dish.

Jamaican All Purpose-

A must have for all Jamaican inspired recipes. It adds a wonderful flavour without too much salt to the dish. Use this link to get some quality seasoning if you don’t already have some.

Garlic powder-

I love garlic. And onions. And the only thing I could possibly love more than garlic and onions is them in powdered form. They add so much taste to meals without needing extra salt.

Curry powder-

This is totally optional but truly kills the dish up a notch. I only added 1/2 a teaspoon and it still came out so well! Wondering what type of curry to use? My favorite Jamaican curry at the moment is by Blue Mountain Country but I also love Betapec

Salt Free seasoning –

My mom deals with high blood pressure therefore I try my best to include as little salt in my dishes as possible. My favorite salt free blend on the market is by Mrs. Dash! They have a lemon pepper blend, onion and herb, original mix (my personal favorite), and recently came out with a new super “extra spicy” mix which is super cool!. Grab a bottle for your pantry here.

Sea Salt-

Any salt will do but I tend to stay away from iodised table salt for personal reasons. I lean more towards sea salt or pink Himalayan salt when I cook. You can grab a large jar of Pink Himalayan salt or sea salt using these links.

What to pair with Jamaican Steamed Cabbage

Although steamed cabbage is very tasty alone, its best to serve it alongside something else. I like to pair with grains or other Caribbean starches when I eat steamed cabbage. Check out some food you’d see featured on my plate next to my cabbage.

Rice and Peas-

Rice and peas are delicious enough to chow down on their own but taste even better when paired with this authentic Jamaican steamed cabbage recipe. If you want to learn how to make authentic Jamaican rice and Peas, get the recipe here.

Brown Rice or regular white rice-

Because steamed cabbage is a quick recipe that does not take much time, it would make sense to also pair it with a side dish that does not take much time. Simple white or brown rice would do well with this dish.

Boiled Green Banana-

In the Caribbean and certain African countries, unripened green bananas are a starch served alongside many entrees. Green bananas leave me feeling light but also satiated and filled.

Jamaican boiled dumplings-

One of my absolute top picks when it comes to Jamaican side. Made with just flour and water and boiled, Jamaican boiled dumplings are a beloved side side in the islands and can also be made alkaline using spelt flour.

Other Variations: More vegetables to add in Jamaican Steamed Cabbage

Jamaican steamed cabbage is usually cooked with salted cod or saltfish. Of course, this is a vegan recipe (and website) there for there is no fish included in this recipe. The fish typically helps to give a more filling feeling as cabbage does not tend to hold me over for too long. I love to add in

Shredded Mushrooms– Lots of vegan Jamaicans add in mushrooms in place of saltfish. Mushrooms that would make a great fish replacement would be oyster. Honestly, in my humble opinion, oyster mushrooms are superior in every way. They also make an amazing chicken replacement!

Shredded Jackfruit– This one might come as a surprise! Shredded jackfruit is often used in vegan recipes to replace pork, fish, and “chicken”. You might be surprised what you can cook with once you start incorporating more plant based meals.

Beans– I actually added chickpeas into my cabbage and it was delicious. The protein in beans help to make the cabbage a lot more filling and adds a great flavour as well. White northern beans could also taste great in this recipe.

Coconut Milk– This won’t add any extra protein or filling but curry and cabbage cooked down in coconut tastes absolutely heavenly. I mean, doesn’t anything cooked down in coconut taste delicious?

Tomatoes– People usually add tomatoes in while cooking cabbage. The dish tastes great with or without them.

How to cook Jamaican Steamed Cabbage

Cooking Jamaican steamed cabbage is very simple. Its a recipe that can be done within 20 minutes so more time can be spent enjoying the meal instead of prepping ingredients!

1. Wash and prep the produce accordingly. Slice the cabbage, carrots, onion, and bell peppers into long thin strips. Dice the scallion into small pieces.

2. Carefully sauté the fresh thyme, scallion, onion, and scotch bonnet in hot oil. Be careful to not burst or cut the scotch bonnet pepper or the dish will become extremely spicy. Cook for at least 5 minutes.

3. Add the carrots into the pan and cook with everything for 5 more minutes before adding in the cabbage. Pour in about 1/3 cup of water so the carrot can cook and soften properly.

4. Add in the cabbage incorporating well into the other vegetables. Cover the pot and allow it to steam for at least 10 minutes. Pour in another 1/3 cup if water if necessary. Be careful not to add too much water! The cabbage is supposed to be cooked but not soggy.

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Check out these other awesome Vegan Jamaican recipes

• Lentil Potato Curry Jamaican Style
• Authentic Jamaican Rice and Peas