Cabbage is a hardy crop of cruciferous vegetables that grows in cooler climates. This makes them an ideal veggie for the Canadian growing seasons! Although we likely recognize cabbage as being either purple or green and always round, there are actually quite a few varieties of this vegetable to enjoy. This wholesome veggie is packed with important nutrients, like vitamins C and K, as well as folate, manganese, and fibre. In our stores, you can enjoy the maximum nutritional value of cabbage since our produce arrives at the peak of freshness, ensuring better quality and a longer life. Read on to learn more about cabbage, including what to do with them, recipes, and more!
Where Does Cabbage Grow in Canada?
The majority of Canada’s cabbage production comes from the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The vegetable is actually believed to be derived from the same wild cabbage plant as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, and Brussels sprouts! All those hearty green veggies are members of the Brassica Oleracea genus. We sometimes refer to this grouping of plants as cole crops. This is produce that’s known to be easily grown and highly tolerant to cold conditions—perfect for our chilly Canadian climates!
How To Choose & Store Cabbage
- Choose heads that are firm and feel heavy for their size.
- Avoid any that have dark spots, soft spots, bruises, or too much moisture.
- Look for tightly-bound, vibrantly coloured leaves.
- To keep your cabbage from prematurely spoiling, store them in the crisper drawer of your fridge.
- Store freshly picked cabbage in a cold cellar, pantry, or root cellar (if your home has one).
- Cabbage will remain in good condition for weeks if properly stored in a cool area where they can be kept dry.
Cabbage Varieties
Appearance: Green and white in colour with a round shape, tightly packed leaves, and heavy weight.
Flavour: Peppery when raw, sweet when cooked.
Texture: Slightly rubbery and crisp.
Best For: Grilling, slow-braising, roasting, or in coleslaws.
Appearance: Similar in size and shape to green cabbage, but with red, purple, or purplish-red and white colour.
Flavour: Mellow and sweet.
Texture: Crunchy.
Best For: Braising, roasting, adding a pop of colour and crunch to salads, or topping burgers and tacos.
Appearance: Deep green, round, with soft, frilly leaves.
Flavour: Sweet.
Texture: Tender and crisp.
Best For: Soups, pastas, sautéing, and stir-frying.
Appearance: Oblong-shaped with frilly leaves, thick stems, and a pale yellow-green colour.
Flavour: Slightly sweet and mild.
Texture: Soft, crisp, and juicy.
Best For: Fermenting in kimchi recipes, or fresh in salads, slaws, and stir-fries.
Appearance: Long, dark green, frilly leaves with a thick stem.
Flavour: Peppery and slightly bitter.
Texture: Hearty and tough, this cabbage requires massaging to be edible.
Best For: Marinated salads, stews, soups, pestos, pastas, and smoothies.
Appearance: Wide green leaves with a crisp, white stalk.
Flavour: Slightly sweet and mild.
Texture: Tender leaves with a crunchy, juicy stem.
Best For: Stir-fries, steaming, and braising.
Un-Be-Leaf-Able Farm Boy Cabbage Products
Enjoy deliciously authentic flavour with these plant-based dumplings that are ready in minutes! Stuffed with kimchi made from Nappa cabbage, chili peppers, salt, garlic, and ginger, you can try them fried, steamed, baked, or cooked in a broth. Made in Ontario, they work as an easy app or simple weeknight dinner.
All the deliciousness of stir-fries with none of the prep! Our convenient kit makes it easier for you to enjoy a wholesome meal for two in as little as three minutes. Cooked chicken breast, rice, chef-prepared teriyaki sauce, and crisp veggies like broccoli, bok choy, carrots, and green beans make this the perfect weeknight option.
Experience true tangy, fermented goodness. Made in the traditional European style, our organic sauerkraut is unpasteurized and naturally fermented for 6-8 weeks. With only simple ingredients like green cabbage, sea salt, caraway seeds, and juniper berries, try it on your favourite Artisan Sausage for maximum flavour.
Recipes and Ideas!
Chicken Soup with Mushrooms and Asian Greens
Ingredients: dried mushrooms, water, sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, green onions, lemongrass, chicken broth, soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, black pepper, salt, chicken thighs, mushrooms, Thai chilis, bok choy, sesame oil, cilantro, sesame seeds.
Warm, hearty, and nourishing, this wholesome soup recipe is a must-make for chilly months. Enjoy it on its own or add some extra heft with the addition of Farm Boy™ Ramen Noodles or Udon Noodles.
Chef’s Tip: Make this recipe vegetarian by swapping the chicken broth for vegetable broth and the chicken thighs for extra-firm tofu.
Crunchy Rainbow Salad with Peanut Dressing
Ingredients: peanut butter, ginger, lime, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sambal oelek, water, Napa cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, green onions, mint, cilantro, peanuts.
Full of gorgeous colours and spicy, nutty, and umami flavours, this salad is a nutritional powerhouse! Perfect as a tasty side, you can transform it into a main course with the addition of fried tofu, roasted salmon, or grilled chicken.
Chef’s Tip: Add a bit of sweetness to this recipe with thinly sliced mango.
Vegan Grilled Cabbage Steaks with Pesto and Cheese
Ingredients: green cabbage, canola oil, pesto, BBQ spice, plant-based mozzarella cheese, plant-based parmesan cheese.
Hearty green cabbage is the star of the show in this delicious plant-based recipe! Perfect for the summer BBQ (or when you just need a taste of those warm months), this dish is loaded with herbaceous, cheesy goodness.
Chef’s Tip: Red cabbage steak or cauliflower steaks also work great for this recipe, too!
Did you know?
- During the Roman period, cabbage was a quite expensive vegetable.
- In Chinese culture, the cabbage represents wealth and prosperity.
- The word “cabbage” comes come the French word caboche, derived from the old French caboce, and the Latin origin of caput, meaning head.
- The largest cabbage weighed 138.25 pounds and was grown in Alaska.
- Legendary baseball player Babe Ruth used to wear a cabbage leaf under his ball cap during games, as people believed cabbage cured baldness.
