Stews are always loved for their rich flavors, along with the thick sauce eaten with hot rice that makes the dish more complete. Therefore, TasteVN will accompany you into the kitchen to reveal 2 delicious and easy-to-make cabbage stews for vegetarian days!
1. Pepper Cabbage Stew
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Pepper Cabbage Stew For 2 people
Cabbage 300 gr Chili 2 pieces Chopped green onion 2 tablespoons Sugar 1 tablespoon Vegetarian seasoning 2 teaspoons Pepper 1 teaspoon Chili sauce 2 teaspoons Vegetarian fish sauce 3 tablespoons Cooking oil 2 tablespoons
Ingredient Image
How to Make Pepper Cabbage Stew
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Prepare the cabbage
Cabbage is cut vertically into slices about 2 – 3cm thick. Then place the cabbage in a bowl, add about 1 teaspoon of salt, pour enough water to cover the cabbage and soak for about 20 minutes, then rinse with water and drain.
Note when preparing cabbage:
- When cutting, keep the core inside to help the cabbage stick together and not fall apart.
- Soaking cabbage in salt water or baking soda will help remove pesticide residues from the cabbage and make it softer.
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Mix the braising sauce
Put 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of vegetarian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 2 teaspoons of chili sauce, and 3 tablespoons of vegetarian fish sauce into a bowl, and stir well to dissolve the seasonings.
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Stir-fry the braising sauce
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the pan, and stir well over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and turns a brown color.
Next, add about 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions, sauté until fragrant. Then pour all the braising sauce into the pan and stir well.
Tip: The step of caramelizing sugar helps create an attractive color for the dish, or you can use caramel sauce – pre-made caramel to substitute.
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Braised Cabbage
Layer the cabbage in the pot, turning both sides to let the cabbage absorb the sauce evenly. Then add about 100ml of filtered water to the pot, cook over medium heat until boiling, then reduce to low heat.
Tip: To give the braising liquid a sweet taste, you can use fresh coconut water instead of filtered water.
Braise for about 15 – 20 minutes until the liquid reduces, and the braising sauce thickens, then turn off the heat. Finally, sprinkle the remaining green onions into the pot, and it’s ready to enjoy.
Tip: The longer you braise the cabbage, the more it absorbs the seasoning and tastes better.
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Final Product
The cabbage is chewy and crunchy. The braising liquid is spicy and flavorful, seasoned well. This dish is best served with hot rice.
2. Braised Pepper Cabbage Rolls with Tofu
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Braised Pepper Cabbage Rolls with Tofu Serves 2
Cabbage 1 piece Soft Tofu 3 pieces (or yellow tofu) Lemongrass 3 stalks Shallots 2 cloves Bird’s Eye Chili 1 piece Green Onions 3 stalks Soy Sauce 3 tablespoons Pepper 1 teaspoon Vegetarian Seasoning 1 tablespoon Sugar 3 tablespoons Salt 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil 4 tablespoons Water 500 ml
How to choose good tofu
- Good tofu will have a white color. In contrast, tofu containing gypsum will usually be more yellow, and the yellower it is, the more gypsum it contains. Therefore, you should avoid buying pieces of tofu that are yellow or yellowish.
- If the tofu feels soft to the touch and feels light in your hand, you should buy it. Heavier, firmer, slightly hard pieces of tofu should not be purchased.
- Pure tofu will have a pleasant aroma when smelled, while tofu with gypsum will smell like lime or have no smell at all.
- Good tofu will have the characteristic fatty taste of soybeans, while tofu containing a lot of gypsum will taste astringent.
- Additionally, to ensure quality and hygiene, you can make tofu at home.
You can buy tofu at reputable stores or can also make tofu at home following the recipe from TasteVN.
See more: How to make tofu using a rice cooker simply, quickly, and deliciously
How to prepare Cabbage rolls with braised tofu and pepper
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Prepare the cabbage
Separate the cabbage leaves, soak them in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water and drain.
Tip:
- Gently separate the cabbage leaves to avoid tearing them, which would make the final product look unappealing.
- Soaking cabbage in salt water will help eliminate pesticide residues while making the cabbage softer.
- You can use baking soda to soak the cabbage instead of salt.
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Prepare other ingredients
Wash the green onions and chop them finely. Mince the chili.
Peel the shallots and cut them into thin slices.
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Mix the tofu filling
Place the tofu in a bowl. Use a spoon to mash the tofu. Season the tofu with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and mix all the ingredients together. Marinate the tofu for about 10 minutes to absorb the seasoning.
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Blanch the cabbage
Prepare a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Next, add the cabbage and lemongrass to blanch for about 1 – 2 minutes, then remove to a bowl.
Note: Blanching will help the cabbage soften and be easier to wrap.
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Sauté the filling
Place a pan on the stove, add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and set to medium heat. When the oil starts to heat up, add the tofu to the pan, stir continuously until the tofu is cooked and golden, then turn off the heat.
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Wrap the filling
Add a bit of sautéed tofu to the center of the cabbage leaf. Gather the corners together and use lemongrass to tie it up so that the cabbage doesn’t come apart during cooking.
Note: You can cut off the cabbage veins to speed up the cooking process and prevent toughness.
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Cooking the dish
Place a pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the shallots, green onions, and minced chili to the pan, sauté on medium heat until fragrant, then turn off the heat. Season the pan with 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 6 tablespoons of water, stir well, then turn the heat back on to medium. When the sauce in the pot starts to boil, add 1 tablespoon of vegetarian seasoning, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Next, add the cabbage rolls with tofu to the pan, turning both sides to absorb the sauce. Then, pour in a little more water to cover the cabbage, simmer for about 20 – 25 minutes until the cabbage is tender and the sauce reduces, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
The cabbage is cooked just right, so it retains its crispness. Taking a bite, you will feel the sweetness of the cabbage combined with the creamy tofu. Dipping it in a bit of thick sauce, seasoned well, makes the dish even more appealing.
How to choose fresh and delicious cabbage
- You should choose heavy cabbage heads, tightly packed leaves, with a non-spreading top, thick head, closed, and small stem.
- Avoid buying cabbage heads with yellow leaves, a rotten smell, cracked cores, spread leaves, or many bruises. Avoid buying cabbage with brown stems or brown spots on the skin.
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Wishing you success in making 2 dishes of braised cabbage with pepper and vegetarian tofu roll braised that are delicious and easy to make!
*Refer to recipes and images from 2 YouTube channels: Mrs. Country Mother and Delicious dishes at home
