Braised Cabbage and Cannellini Beans

This week has been so busy with coming back to the city after being home for thanksgiving and I have not had time to cook other than a few Italian cookbook recipes. So, here is a sneak peek of one of the recipes that will be included in my book.


Cabbage is so excellent when you simmer it in olive oil and add spices, it has so much flavor and can compliment a meal deliciously. My favorite cabbage dish is cabbage and cannellini beans. I braised the cabbage and added the beans afterwards. Braising means you cook at high temps in some kind of fat and then simmer the dish at low heat. I browned the cabbage slightly and then add some spices and a little more olive oil. You can add the beans last if you already have precooked beans.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 can of cannellini beans
1 head of white cabbage
2 cloves of fresh or powdered garlic
2 tsp of sea salt
Italian seasoning

Pour the olive oil in a large skillet and turn the heat on medium. Add the fresh garlic and cook until it's brown. If you don't have fresh garlic, move onto the cabbage. Cut the cabbage into small pieces and add to the olive oil. Let it cook and brown for about 5 minutes. Add the powdered garlic and spices and stir. Lower the heat and cover to let the cabbage simmer and cook. When the cabbage is done, stir in the beans. Taste the cabbage to see if it is soft enough. If not, keep it on low heat.

Add a little more olive oil if needed after browning the cabbage. You can also add water to it too or if you are cooking pasta, add some of the pasta water to the cabbage.

This is such a delicious dish by itself or as a side.

What is your favorite way to cook cabbage?

I'm headed to the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center tonight, my first in person tree lighting and my first Christmas living in NYC!! It is currently raining again in the city but it doesn't damper the magic of the streets and people. I could walk around all day taking pictures of picturesque buildings and landmarks. I feel lucky to have a job that gives me the mornings and some of the afternoons free.

What fun do you have planned today?