This easy Braised Savoy Cabbage is a delicious and healthy side for meat, egg and cheese dishes.
Verza Stufata or Braised Savoy Cabbage, is a popular Italian winter dish, usually served with sausage meat, pancetta, or alongside other meat dishes.
It is regarded as a traditional peasant dish, inexpensive and simple to make. Ingredients are first sautéed and then cooked on a low heat with a flavoursome stock, till the cabbage leaves are tender and the liquid has mostly reduced.
This recipe is a vegetarian version, but if you wish to add meat, add it after softening the garlic then sauté till brown before adding the cabbage.
Although this dish can be served straight away, the flavours develop further while resting. For best results prepare it a couple of hours in advance.
“Made this last night at my Sister’s, she grew Savoy Cabbage in her garden this year, so we used that.
I was a little worried that the dark green leaves that were used would be way too bitter but my worries soon left after tasting the finished dish! Make sure you add Parmesan to it!! 😋
Everyone went crazy over it, with hardly any leftovers for another meal! It’s a winner 😍” Cassie
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About savoy cabbage
Also known as cavolo verza in Italian, the savoy cabbage is the prettiest cabbage of them all.
It is large and round with large, loose emerald green outer leaves which are heavily textured and slightly frilled round the edges. Inside, the leaves are light green, paling to yellow and are more tender and crisp.
Savoy cabbage has a delicate flavour which is mild and earthy. When cooked, the leaves become tender and sweet.
Plus it’s good for you!
Savoy cabbage is high in fibre, vitamins A, C, K, B6 as well as being an excellent source of folate, potassium, manganese, thiamin, calcium, iron and magnesium.
The peak season for savoy cabbage runs from November through to April.
Select one with bright unblemished leaves which are firmly attached at the base.
An uncut savoy cabbage will keep in a dry cool place for up to two weeks.
Ingredients
- savoy cabbage
- garlic
- olive oil
- vegetable broth (or beef/chicken broth)
- salt & pepper
How to cut savoy cabbage
Savoy cabbage is easier to cut in half than a green or red cabbage.
- Slice the savoy cabbage in half down the middle, and cut away the hard central core.
- Cut the leaves into thin strips around 1 inch wide.
Serving
Drizzle some good quality olive oil over the top and a grating of cheese (optional).
Serve warm with some fresh bread, alongside meat dishes such these chicken sausages, fried lamb, or fish pie.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in a closed container in the fridge and keep for up to 3 days.
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Are you making this Braised Savoy Cabbage recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out in the comments, and don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Verza Stufata – Italian Braised Savoy Cabbage
Ingredients
- olive oil 3 tablespoons
- garlic clove - chopped small 1 large
- savoy cabbage - washed and patted dry 1 full
- vegetable stock - (1 cup) or beef/chicken stock 200 ml
- salt - to taste ½ teaspoon
- black pepper - freshly ground ⅛ teaspoon
- olive oil - from drizzling (optional)
- parmesan cheese - for grating
Instructions
- Prepare 1 full savoy cabbage by slicing down the middle, cutting away the tough central core, the slicing the leaves into thin 1 inch strips.
- In a large saucepan with a lid, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil with 1 large garlic clove on low heat till the garlic softens.
- Add sliced cabbage, turn the heat to medium and sauté for a couple of minutes in the garlic oil.
- Stir in a third of the 200 ml vegetable stock and ½ teaspoon salt, then turn the heat back down to low, cover and leave to simmer for 30 minutes, lifting the lid occasionally to stir, and adding more stock gradually.
- Remove from the heat, and serve warm with a ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil over the top and a grating of parmesan cheese (optional).
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically per serving and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
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Michelle says
I did this last weekend,added the cabbage to the softened garlic & onions,i added beef stock as we were having it with beef ragu.Thought i’d try pre steaming the cabbage this time as a lot of other recipes suggest this but much preferred this recipe! Steaming it made it retain to much moisture & it was more like stewed cabbage rather than a sauteed dish?!
Nicole Shroff says
Thank you Michelle, I’m glad you liked it and I totally agree steaming makes it too soggy.
Cassie says
Made this last night at my Sister’s, she grew Savoy Cabbage in her garden this year, so we used that.
I was a little worried that the dark green leaves that were used would be way too bitter but my worries soon left after tasting the finished dish! Make sure you add Parmesan to it!! 😋
Everyone went crazy over it, with hardly any leftovers for another meal! It’s a winner 😍
Nicole Shroff says
Thanks Cassie, I’m so happy to hear it!