Oven-Caramelized Cabbage Wedges

Caroline Lange
Caroline Lange
Caroline Lange is a writer, cook, and recipe tester and developer. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
published May 16, 2020
Post Image
Credit: Caroline Lange

Cabbage wedges are tossed with olive oil and seasoned simply with salt, then roasted in a hot oven until darkly-caramelized and tender, with extra-crispy edges.

Serves2 to 4

Prep10 minutes

Cook15 minutes to 20 minutes

Jump to Recipe
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Caroline Lange

You may be quick to categorize cabbage as wan or boring — especially if you’ve mostly had it boiled. But cooked in a fiercely hot oven, cabbage ascends to the ranks of potato chips: crisp, golden, savory, toasty. 

It doesn’t require much — only that steady, long-lasting cabbage (the one that’s been kicking around the back of the fridge for a couple of weeks), a bit of oil and salt, and a blazing-hot oven. In just 20 minutes, the fat, seasoned wedges slip into darkly caramelized, crisp-edged tenderness. If you’ve ever helped yourself to the crunchy not-quite-burnt leaves of roasted Brussels sprouts, you’ll be pleased to find the same dynamic at work here. (Brussels sprouts are really just tiny cabbages, after all.) 

Credit: Caroline Lange

Transforming Crispy Cabbage into a Sophisticated Side

The cabbage is good as-is, the ribbons hot and crisp, ready to be nibbled with your fingers directly from the baking sheet. But it can also come together quickly into a sophisticated side. Serve with a little bowl of lemon wedges for squeezing, or a judicious sprinkle of sherry vinegar, then top with crunchy coarse breadcrumbs you’ve toasted in a pan with a little olive oil until golden. 

Or, while the cabbage cools to room temperature, swoosh a thick layer of Greek yogurt across your serving plate or platter. Arrange the cabbage on top, then scatter with chopped toasted nuts or seeds and a big handful of roughly chopped herbs — I like parsley, cilantro, or mint here — and a final drizzle of olive oil. 

Oven-Caramelized Cabbage Wedges

Cabbage wedges are tossed with olive oil and seasoned simply with salt, then roasted in a hot oven until darkly-caramelized and tender, with extra-crispy edges.

Prep time 10 minutes

Cook time 15 minutes to 20 minutes

Serves 2 to 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1/2

    medium head green or Savoy cabbage (about 1 1/2 pounds)

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt, plus more as needed

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • Topping options: lemon wedges, sherry vinegar, panko or coarse homemade bread crumbs toasted in olive oil, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, toasted chopped nuts, chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, cilantro, or mint)

Instructions

Show Images
  1. Arrange a rack in the bottom of the oven and heat the oven to 450ºF.

  2. Trim the base from 1/2 medium head cabbage, but leave the core otherwise intact. Cut the cabbage lengthwise through the core into 1 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the cabbage on a baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and gently toss to coat. Evenly space out the wedges cut-side down on the baking sheet. Don’t worry if any ribbons of cabbage detach — just arrange them around the wedges.

  3. Roast until the bottoms of the wedges are deeply browned, the core is just tender, and any detached ribbons are crispy, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the hot wedges to a platter browned-side up and season with black pepper. Serve hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges or with a drizzle of sherry vinegar. You can also top with toasted bread crumbs.

  4. For a slightly dressier side dish, smear 1/2 cup Greek yogurt on a platter or large plate, then arrange the wedges browned-side up over it. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and herbs.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days.