Jamaican Cabbage In The Instant Pot
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This 4-minute quick and easy recipe for Jamaican cabbage in the pressure cooker will melt your heart with flavor!
Save time and eat well with this simple Instant Pot Caribbean dish.
It’s cabbage season, baby!
Ever wonder what to do with cabbage?
Cabbage can be cooked and eaten on its own or combined with other vegetables to create hearty dishes such as oxtail dumplings and steamed cabbage (my favorite!).
It’s an easy vegetable that is very affordable and tastes great!
You can make a big pot of cabbage soup or just whip up a quick side dish like Jamaican cabbage.
What is Jamaican cabbage?
Jamaican cabbage is a cooked buttered cabbage with soulful seasonings and flavors known to traditional Jamaican recipes.
This Instant Pot authentic Jamaican cabbage includes carrots, onions, thyme, Old Bay seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper.
It’s the most flavorful cabbage you’ve ever tasted. And bonus – with Instant Pot, it pressure cooks in only 4 minutes!
The taste of steamed cabbage paired with roasted chicken brings me back to my childhood.
The days when I accompanied my grandmother on her grocery run, and she cooked a stockpot full of steamed cabbage when we got home.
This simple dish of Jamaican cabbage reminds me of home, family, and, most importantly, love.
What can you serve with Jamaican steamed cabbage?
Jamaican steamed cabbage can be served with sweet plantains (you can make them in your instant pot), Caribbean rice, rice and beans, oxtail, and jerk chicken.
Jamaican cabbage can also be paired with non-Jamaican recipes like slow-cooked corned beef or canned corned beef.
Of course, Caribbean favorites like coco bread, banana fritters, fried dumplings, or festival dumplings always pair well with Jamaican-style cabbage for an extra treat!
Why Jamaican cabbage?
Jamaican steamed cabbage is a very popular dish, and it’s easy to understand why.
It can be served as a side dish for lunch or dinner, but because of the light flavor profile, it also makes an excellent appetizer if you serve it with dipping sauces.
What type of cabbage do you use for Jamaican steamed cabbage?
Green cabbage is traditionally used for a Jamaican cabbage recipe.
I have also tried this recipe with red cabbage. You cook it just the same, and it’s still exceptionally delicious!
What are the ingredients for Jamaican steamed cabbage?
Jamaican cabbage also does not have any complex ingredients that are hard to find, which is always a bonus in my kitchen!
This Jamaican cabbage recipe is simply pressure cooked with onions, garlic, old bay seasoning, a few spices, chicken broth, and thyme for a hearty addition to any meal.
How to make cabbage and carrot salad Jamaican style? And Can you add other vegetables to the dish?
In addition to carrots, onion, and thyme, you could add a teaspoon of curry, a spice used in many Jamaican recipes. Or a few more chopped vegetables like callaloo, bell pepper, or green onion scallions to make a carrot and cabbage salad Jamaican style!
Pro tip: Prepare the ingredients ahead of time, so when dinnertime rolls around, you can quickly assemble them into a complete meal!
What is a Scotch bonnet pepper?
Some like it hot and add a Scotch bonnet pepper to their Jamaican cabbage mix!
Scotch bonnet is a Caribbean red pepper, a chili pepper from West Africa and the Caribbean. Like the closely related habanero pepper, Scotch bonnets have a very high heat rating!
You can reduce a lot of the Scotch bonnet heat by removing its inner seeds and membrane.
The more finely the pepper is chopped or minced, the more heat is spread into the dish.
When do you add the Scotch bonnet pepper?
You can simply add the Scotch bonnet whole to the pot with the other ingredients for mild heat to your Jamaican cabbage.
Or if you’re like me – I don’t add this pepper at all!
Shop my kitchenware!
Instant Pot Duo Nova | The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | Pyrex measuring cup | Amazon small rubber spatula | The Pioneer Woman similar dinner plate | Farberware similar knife set | Courtly Check cutting board |
Cabbage in the pressure cooker
This Jamaican cabbage recipe is a delicious way to spice up any meal. You’ll be surprised at just how good this recipe is!
And surprised by how quick and easy it is to prepare using an Instant Pot!
I’ll take you through the simple 4-minute steps for preparing Jamaican cabbage in your Instant Pot pressure cooker and offer advice on pairing it with other dishes.
You’ll confidently go forth, armed with my Instant Pot quick magical meals in minutes tips to put together a delicious Caribbean island-style meal!
Authentic Jamaican cabbage in the pressure cooker
Ingredients
- (1) 3-4 pound cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup of chicken broth (or vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian)
- 1 stick of butter (½ a cup)
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- ½ teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning
- ½ an onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- ½ a carrot chopped or shredded
- 5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme
How to make Jamaican steamed cabbage
Instructions for Jamaican cabbage in the Instant Pot
- Cut out the cabbage’s core and use a knife to shred the cabbage leaves. Alternatively, use a food processor to shred the cabbage quickly. (I also remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves and discard them before chopping.)
- Add the shredded cabbage and carrot and all ingredients (chicken broth, butter, salt, pepper, Old Bay, onion, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, carrot, and thyme) into the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
- Sink the cabbage and vegetables as much as you can into the liquid broth.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve Jamaican cabbage warm and enjoy!
What do you serve with Jamaican cabbage and saltfish?
You must have the right side dishes to eat a delicious Caribbean meal like Jamaica island favorites cabbage and saltfish or red snapper fish.
- Fried plantains for a sweet and savory side.
- Rice and peas is a hearty accompaniment.
- Callaloo soup for those chilly days.
- Coconut rice is also a great serving option with any Caribbean dish!
Jamaican cabbage recipe FAQs
How to properly store cabbage?
If you have half or a quarter of a cabbage leftover, wrap it tightly in plastic and store it in the refrigerator.
You can also put the whole head of cabbage wrapped tightly into a refrigerator storage bag. Let all air out before closing the bag to get an airtight seal.
How long do you cook Jamaican steamed cabbage?
It only takes 4 minutes in the Instant Pot!
Pressure cook on high. You only need to allow another 4 minutes for a natural pressure release.
How much stock or water do you add to this?
1 cup of chicken broth is enough to prepare this recipe.
If you are out of chicken broth, you can substitute with chicken stock or one cup of water with a chicken bouillon cube.
Beef broth would also work.
To make this dish vegetarian, you could also use vegetable broth.
How do you know when cabbage is done?
Avoid overcooking it because the cabbage can turn into a mushy mess!
Undercooking or overcooking both make cabbage unappealing.
You can tell when the cabbage is done by how it smells. Cabbage is ready when tender but still crunchy.
How long to steam cabbage?
Instant Pot cooking makes steaming cabbage and other fresh vegetables like creamed corn, carrots and green beans effortless and easy in under 5 minutes!
So easy that you don’t have to worry about over or undercooking!
Simply ensure that the cabbage is submerged in the chicken broth as much as possible before you close the lid.
What are some health benefits of and nutritional value of cabbage?
Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked and provide many health benefits such as detoxification weight loss. Although I’ve never tried it, there is such a thing as a cabbage diet for weight loss!
Cabbage is high in vitamin K for bone health. In addition, it provides fiber for digestion, and it’s a low-calorie food choice, and cabbage is very keto-friendly.
What type of cabbage is best to use with Jamaican saltfish?
The perfect type of cabbage to use with saltfish is white cabbage with light green leaves.
One of the things that makes this type of cabbage so great for cooking with saltfish is its mild flavor. It doesn’t overwhelm or change the dish’s taste as some cabbages do!
How long does it take to boil cabbage on the stove?
Boiling cabbage is a common cooking task. Of course, there are many variations to the recipe. But one of the most popular ways to boil it is by boiling water and adding salt and a few drops of olive oil or coconut oil.
The timing will depend on how big your pot is, but typically you should add the cabbage in after five minutes of boiling time.
If you are using a smaller pot or pan, then it may be done sooner than that.
How long does it take for cabbage to steam?
The best and most innovative way to steam cabbage is to pressure cook it in an Instant Pot.
Instant Pot pressure cooking is an effortless cooking method and takes less than 5 minutes to cook cabbage!
The shorter cooking time better preserves the vegetable’s vitamins and minerals while intensifying the cabbage ingredients’ flavors.
How to store Jamaican steamed cabbage leftovers?
Wondering what to do with the remaining ½ of the cabbage not used?
Or how to store leftover Jamaican cabbage once it’s cooked?
It’s easy! Just follow these steps:
How to properly store cabbage
1. Place cooked cabbage leftovers in an airtight container.
2. Store it in the fridge for 3-5 days, or freeze it for one month.
3. Do the same for uncooked cabbage – store in an airtight bag or seal tightly with plastic wrap.
What did you think about this recipe?
Jamaican cabbage is a terrific and easy way to infuse island-inspired mouth-watering flavors into any meal!
The instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, making this an ideal recipe for Instant Pot newbies or pros!
What are your thoughts? Leave your answer in a comment below!
This post was first published on ShaundaNecole.com on March 21, 2021.
Like this post? Pin the below picture to your “Jamaican Recipes” Pinterest board!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cabbage 3-4 pounds, shredded
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ carrot chopped or shredded
- ½ teaspoon thyme (5-6 fresh sprigs)
Instructions
- Cut out the cabbage’s core and use a knife to shred the cabbage leaves. Alternatively, use a food processor to shred the cabbage quickly. (I also remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves and discard them before chopping.)
- Add the shredded cabbage and carrot and all ingredients (chicken broth, butter, salt, pepper, Old Bay, onion, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, carrot, and thyme) into the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
- Sink the cabbage and vegetables as much as you can into the liquid broth.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve Jamaican cabbage warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Reading all the yummy’ recipes from your website makes me wanna add Instant Pot in my bucket list!
You’ll love your Instant Pot & your Instant Pot will love you and your family! 😉
This is a great recipe! I’m going to have to try it.
Loved the recipe, but it called for 1tbs of salt 😟
Glad you love this cabbage recipe – enjoy in moderation! You’ll need this much salt for the tough cabbage leaves, and it’s a whole head of cabbage in broth.