Cabbage with Prunes

Unusual combination of prunes and cabbage, stewed together.

Slightly sweet, pure veggies, just a bit of oil, so not too heavy and pretty simple to cook, especially if you shred cabbage with mandoline or some similar tool.

If you use prunes with pits, account for few additional minutes to remove them. It isn’t too hard, just a bit messy. If pits are not coming out easily, soak them a bit longer.

Serve cabbage with prunes as a separate entry or a side dish.

Ingredients:

  • 2.5-3lb cabbage head
  • 16-20 prunes, better pitted
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • Onion
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for frying

How to prepare, step-by-step:

  1. Prepare ingredients:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 1
  2. Rinse prunes, soak them in a cup of boiling water and set aside for 10-15mins:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 2
  3. Meanwhile, shred cabbage (I used mandoline, but food processor or knife will work as good):
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 3
  4. Salt cabbage:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 4
  5. And squeeze it with your hands to soften and let juices out, set aside:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 5
  6. Warm up deep skillet with oil, peel onion, slice it into quarter circles and fry over moderate heat until colored, stir from time to time:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 6
  7. Add cabbage in, you may need to work in batches (add a portion, let it cook a bit, reduce in volume and add some more) to fit all the cabbage:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 7
  8. Remove prunes from water they were soaking in (preserve the water), remove pits if they have them, slice in halves or quarters and add to the skillet:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 8
  9. Add a teaspoon of brown sugar:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 9
  10. Pour water prunes were soaking in:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 10
  11. Mix and let everything cook for about 15 mins over slow simmer, mix from time to time:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 11
  12. After 15 mins, taste for salt (and add more if needed) and season with ground black pepper to taste, and continue cooking until desired tenderness of the cabbage:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 12
  13. And serve:
    Cabbage with Prunes: Step 13
Enjoy!