If you've been avoiding cabbage, now is the time to give it a try! This Easy Sesame Garlic Sautéed Purple Cabbage will CHANGE the way you look at this vibrant veggie.

It's time to talk about cabbage, friends! So many people see cabbage as kind of an afterthought veggie. It's good as a garnish or for adding color to a plate, but a whole dish centered around it? My mission here: change your mind with one dish. I think I can do it, too! This Sautéed Purple Cabbage is absolutely packed with flavor and nutritional content that you absolutely cannot miss. My favorite part? The vibrant color!
How to Make Cabbage Taste Great
Raw cabbage has an earthy, kind of bitter taste, but when it's cooked, the cabbage will easily take on the other flavors in the pot. I think it gains a little sweetness as it's cooked, too! I sauté my purple cabbage in garlic, then add salt, pepper, and sesame seeds for the perfectly subtle blend of flavors. I'm telling you, this dish is delicious!
All About Cabbage
Cabbage is a powerhouse vegetable offering so many health benefits. It is high in fiber, low in calories and loaded with antioxidants, phytochemicals, and vitamins. It's inexpensive and low in calories, and just one serving of purple cabbage contains more than HALF of your daily vitamin C intake. Cabbage's antioxidant properties have been said to have anti-aging and cancer-fighting properties in addition to being great for your memory and urinary tract health. In short: eat more cabbage!
Is Purple Cabbage the Same as Red Cabbage?
Yes! The shades can vary from a deep reddish color to purple, but red and purple cabbage are the same nutrient-dense veggie! It's generally smaller and a bit heavier than green cabbage. I think it has more flavor than green as well!
This Sautéed Purple Cabbage is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. It's also free of refined sugar! It's one of those amazing dishes that everyone at your table can enjoy.
If you make this vibrant, beautiful dish, I hope you'll tag me on Instagram! I absolutely love seeing your creations inspired by my recipes. It would also make my day if you rated this recipe here on the blog so others are inspired to try it as well!
More Bright Veggie Dishes
Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
Spring Root Vegetable Hash with Creamy Herb Sauce
Crispy Oven Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Whole Rainbow Carrots
Rainbow Veggie Kebabs with Chimichurri
Vegan Enchilada Stuffed Bell Peppers
Easy Maple Glazed Sautéed Carrots
Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
Broccoli Salad with California Avocado
Easy Sesame Garlic Sautéed Purple Cabbage
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
If you've been avoiding cabbage now is the time to give it a try! This Easy Sesame Garlic Sautéed Purple Cabbage will CHANGE the way you look at this vibrant veggie.
Ingredients
- 1 small head red (purple) cabbage (or half a large head) [~ 1 pound], white core removed, chopped into 1-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon toasted or raw white sesame seeds
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or sliced
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat a 12-inch cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Once hot, add chopped cabbage, oil, salt and pepper. Use tongs to toss well and sauté over medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add sesame seeds, garlic and maple syrup and sauté over low heat for another 6-8 minutes until cabbage is fork tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Serve immediately while hot or allow to cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat leftovers on the stovetop or microwave.
Notes
Tip: Don't overcrowd your skillet with the cabbage or it won't get crispy and caramelized.
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
Keywords: sauteed red cabbage
D. Devaiah says
This was delicious, thank you so much!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, D! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe 🙂
Anika says
Very tasty!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Anika! I'm glad you enjoyed this one.
Melina says
So fast so good!! Wow!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Melina! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this one. I agree, so quick to make! Best, Elaine
Skylar says
This was great! I made mine without maple syrup and instead put in red chili flakes and drizzled with sesame oil which complimented the sesame seeds well. I ate this with Korean Tonkatsu and rice and it was perfect. Thank you for the recipe!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Skylar! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it and made it your own. Sounds like a great combo! Best, Elaine
Julie says
Thank you! So delicious. I used organic flax seed in place of sesame seeds.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Julie! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this one. Best, Elaine