Does cabbage go with pasta?

Yes! Caramelized cabbage, or braised cabbage, has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that is strong enough to stand up to pasta and tastes so comforting in a nice cream sauce. It's essential to make sure the cabbage is properly cooked and well-seasoned, or it can fade into the background.

What types of cabbage are best for pasta?

I recommend sticking with green cabbage, particularly savoy cabbage, as these caramelize really well and won't change the color of the pasta. Red cabbage can easily change the color of the cream sauce and give the dish an unusual color. Savoy is my particular favorite, as it has all of those little wrinkles that hold onto extra sauce!

Can you use shredded cabbage for cabbage pasta?

Shredded cabbage pieces are too fine and tend to break down during the braising process. You want larger pieces of cabbage to keep their texture. It's best to cut the cabbage into bite-sized pieces and let it cook long enough to soften without breaking down.

Braised Cabbage Pasta

Ingredients

Scale

1lb of spaghetti
¼ cup of unsalted butter
1 small head of savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small shallot, minced
4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
2 teaspoons chili flakes
1 teaspoon turmeric spice
Salt and pepper
½ cup full fat cream
1/4 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese + ¼ cup for serving
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped + ¼ cup for serving

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Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water. You will finish pasta in the sauce.
While pasta cooks make cabbage. Melt butter in a large pan on medium heat. Saute shallot and garlic in butter for 2-3 minutes until just softened. Add cabbage, chili flakes, turmeric,1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and cook on medium-low for about 15 minutes until cabbage is softened.
Add cooked pasta, cream and ½ cup parsley to the pan and with the cabbage. Use the reserved water to thin out sauce as needed to create a smooth consistency. Cook for 2-3 minutes until pasta is cooked to desired doneness. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Add to serving bowls and top with remaining parmesan cheese and parsley.