• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Flavor Bells
  • Recipes
  • Bread
  • Sourdough
  • Drinks
  • Air Fryer
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Bread
  • Sourdough
  • Drinks
  • Air Fryer
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Bread
    • Sourdough
    • Drinks
    • Air Fryer
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here Home » Main dish

    Cabbage Curry Recipe ( North Indian Cabbage Sabzi)

    August 11, 2022 by Meenakshi 1 Comment

    Please Share!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This North Indian-style cabbage curry recipe makes a perfect weekday meal. It is easy to prep and quick to cook. Whether you like tender, melt-in-mouth cabbage or crispy cabbage, you can adapt this recipe to your taste. Spiced with the basic Indian spices and the subtle tang of tomato, this cabbage sabzi ( Patta gobhi ki sabzi) will become your staple cabbage recipe.

    patta gobhi sabzi in a green skillet

    Jump to:
    • Why will you love this recipe?
    • 🥘 Ingredients required for making cabbage curry
    • 🔪 How to make cabbage curry recipes
    • 💭 Recipe tips for Indian Cabbage Curry
    • ❓Frequently Asked Questions
    • Suggested recipes
    • 📝 Recipe Card
    • Cabbage Curry Recipe ( cabbage sabzi)
    • 📋 Nutrition facts

    Patta gobhi in Hindi means cabbage and sabzi is the Indian word for dry curry.

    This recipe is a North Indian style cabbage curry recipe that has added peas in it.  This is one of my favorite Indian recipes for cabbage.

    You can add peas, potatoes, carrots, and even rice grains to the cabbage curry recipe to make it your own. In an Indian household, a dry curry like this is always made with dal recipes.  

    It is served with roti, naan, or paratha.

    Why will you love this recipe?

    • Easy, quick, and approachable recipe. This recipe is very easy and uses the simple ingredients that are already there in your Indian pantry. Just follow the simple steps.
    • One pot recipe. You can make this on weekdays. It does not require too much prep or work. It is simply one pot recipe.
    • Vegan. Like many Indian recipes, this one is an inherently vegan recipe.
    • Gluten-free recipe. If you have a gluten allergy, this cabbage sabzi is a recipe for you. You can add some gravy in form of coconut cream or yogurt and enjoy this with steamed rice.
    • Cabbage peas sabzi. This is a cabbage curry that is made by mixing peas in it. Hence the name.

    🥘 Ingredients required for making cabbage curry

    image showing all the ingredients that you need to make cabbage sabzi

    Cabbage

    Green cabbage is the first and natural choice for making cabbage curry. But you can also use red cabbage for this recipe. You can also use savoy cabbage, but I would not recommend using napa cabbage for making curry cabbage recipes. This one is a white cabbage curry recipe.

    Green peas

    I have added green peas to this patta gobhi ki sabzi. In North India, we often add something to our cabbage sabzi. Peas and potatoes are the most commonly used vegetables.

    You can use fresh or frozen peas whichever is available to you.

    Red Onion

    I used half of a large red onion. If you have a medium-sized onion, use the whole onion. The key is to chop it very finely. The onion will sweat and melt into the curry on cooking. It gives flavor and body to the sauce/ masala of the sabzi ( curry).

    Red onion or shallots works best for Indian curry recipes, and this cabbage recipe is no exception. But if you cannot find them in your grocery store, go for yellow onions.

    Ginger and garlic

    Ginger and garlic are the base flavoring for our cabbage curry recipe.  I like to mince the garlic and grate the ginger. I use fresh flavors in my recipes, but you can go for store-bought ginger garlic paste. Many people make ginger garlic paste at home. Use whatever you like.

    Tomato Paste

    Please do not replace tomato paste with tomato puree. You will need to increase the amount if you use tomato puree or canned diced tomatoes. Tomato paste is denser and more concentrated. Two tablespoons give enough richness to your curry. To replace it, you can use:

    • 3 Ripe medium-sized tomatoes (diced)
    • 1 cup of canned diced tomato
    • 1 cup tomato puree
    North Indian style cabbage sabzi prepared and served in an elegant skillet

    Vegetable oil

    Stick to the vegetable oil of your choice. You can use avocado oil or canola oil.

    Spices

    • Cumin seeds. 2 teaspoon cumin seeds are a must in the curry recipe. If you do not have it, just omit it and replace it with cumin powder. Add cumin powder with the chopped herbs when the curry is ready. If you do not have any of this, replace one teaspoon of cumin seeds with black mustard seeds.
    • Coriander powder. The dry coriander seeds are ground into powdered form. I like to grind them at home and store them in an airtight container.
    • Garam masala is a mix of spices that is very generic in Indian dishes. You can use the store-bought or homemade mix of dry spices here. Another substitute for garam masala is curry powder.
    • Turmeric. No curry is possible without turmeric powder.
    • Salt and red chili powder. Adjust them according to your taste and preferences.

    🔪 How to make cabbage curry recipes

    Step 1 Prep the ingredients

    Images showing preparations like chopping onions, cabbage etc

    Start by chopping the cabbage. Wash it, and set it aside.

    Chop the onion finely, mince garlic, and grated ginger. Pull out all the spices and keep them at a hand's distance. While preparing curry tadka or masala, you must be quick with adding the dry spices. They are sheer powders and burn very quickly. Also, keep a glass of water close.

    Step 2 Preparing masala for cabbage curry

    images showing making masala for cabbage recipe

    In a skillet heat oil. And add cumin seeds. When the seeds start to sizzle add chopped onions, ginger, and garlic. Sauté them at medium heat. When they turn golden, add all the dry spices. First, reduce the heat to low, and then start by adding turmeric, chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Give them a quick stir and add 2-3 tablespoons of water.

    Let the spices cook for a minute and then add tomato paste. Stir and cook the tomato paste for 2 minutes.

    step by step images for making cabbage sabzi

    When the masala starts to leave oil, it is ready for the veggies.

    Step 3 Adding and cooking cabbage

    Now add peas and mix well. Add the chopped cabbage and then use a ladle to gently coat the cabbage with the masala. Now cover the skillet and let the cabbage curry cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

    Adjust the cooking time depending on how you like your cabbage. If you want the cabbage curry to be crunchy, just cook enough to get rid of the rawness and turn off the flame when the cabbage leaves are still crunchy. But if you like buttery tender cabbage, cook enough till that stage is reached. It took me 7 minutes at medium flame.

    Garnish with scallions, or cilantro and serve hot with roti.

    image showing folding chopped cabbage in prepared spices or masala

    How to make cabbage curry recipe in an Instant pot

     To make this recipe in an instant pot also. Just use the sauté mode at medium heat for 15 minutes and follow the recipe as such from above.

    How to serve cabbage curry?

    This cabbage curry recipe makes a great dinner as well as a lunch meal. Serve it alongside flatbreads like naan, pita bread, roti, or paratha. Alongside serve some salad and raita. And there, you have a delicious Indian meal at your disposal.

    Other variations of cabbage curry

    Wondering how else we Indians enjoy our cabbage? The other Indian recipes with cabbage that you can enjoy are as follows.

    • Cabbage curry with coconut milk. This is more of a south Indian-inspired recipe for cabbage curry where coconut milk is added to give it some gravy base.
    • Cabbage potato curry. Add potatoes with peas to the cabbage curry recipe. The patta gobhi aloo ki sabzi is another popular version of cabbage sabzi throughout northern India.
    • Cabbage poriyal. It is a south Indian of cabbage curry (Andhra style), where mustard seeds are used instead of cumin seeds and freshly grated coconut shreds are added to the curry.

    Indian cabbage recipe prepared and served


    🫙 Storage notes

    Refrigerate the leftover cabbage curry in an airtight container for 2-4 days.  For prolonged storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for about 2 weeks.

    To thaw the frozen curry, defrost it in a microwave, or thaw it overnight in the fridge. You can also let it self-thaw by leaving it at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

    💭 Recipe tips for Indian Cabbage Curry

    • Wash the cabbage after chopping and let it dry in a colander. Make it dry and avoid putting any additional water in the sabzi as the cabbage will have enough water to cook itself.
    • If you are new to Indian cooking, then, measure the spices and have them ready in a small bowl. When we add powdered spices to the pan, they cook super-fast, so have some water ready to bring down the temperature instantly.
    • Replace red onion with shallots or yellow onions.
    • Replace tomato paste with 3 medium-sized tomatoes.
    • Adjust the cooking time according to your taste.
    • If you want to keep your cabbage super crispy, then add salt at the end.
    • There is no need for any additional water for cooking the cabbage. It is best to cook cabbage covered on low heat. The moisture released by the cabbage is enough to cook itself.
    • Add chopped potatoes or carrots to replace or supplement peas.
    • If you want the cabbage curry to be crunchy, just cook enough to get rid of the rawness and turn off the flame when the cabbage leaves are still crunchy. But if you like buttery tender cabbage, cook enough till that stage is reached. It took me 7 minutes at the low-medium flame.

    cabbage curry in a skillet with spoon

    ❓Frequently Asked Questions

    What other veggies can I add to this cabbage curry recipe?

    You can add green peas, chopped carrots, red peppers, tomatoes, radish, and shredded coconut to your carrot recipes. All these veggies go great in the cabbage stir fry and cabbage curry recipes.

    Do you need to brine cabbage before cooking?

    There is no need to brine the cabbage before making the cabbage curry. All you need to do is chop it, wash, and dry it nicely.
     

    Can I use red/ purple cabbage for this recipe?

    Yes, you can use red cabbage for this recipe. It will be different in color but also more earthy in flavor. As red cabbage has a relatively deeper flavor than its green counterpart.

    What can I do with a lot of cabbage?

    Well, if you have a lot of cabbage, you can shred and use it to make numerous cabbage recipes. Use it to fill dumplings, make Coleslaw, cabbage stir fry, cabbage rolls, etc. You can brine and can it or make sauerkraut.

    Suggested recipes

    A few more vegetarian Indian recipes that might interest you are as follows:

    • Chana Dal in Instant Pot: No-soak Split Chickpea Lentil Curry
    • Daal Palak | How to make Indian Palak dal recipe?
    • Dal Makhani: No soak pressure cook recipe
    • Masala Urad dal
    • How to make Authentic Chana masala recipe with canned chickpeas
    • Sweet corn masala
    • Toor Dal in Instant Pot: No Soak Arhar Dal Recipe
    • Frozen Cauliflower in air fryer : A Quick Recipe


    Some Indian cuisine-inspired air fryer recipes:

    • Pakoras in Air Fryer: Crispy and Healthy!
    • Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli Spiced to Perfection!
    • Air Fryer Plantain Chips- Kerala Style Banana Chips

    I hope you and your family like this Indian cabbage curry recipe. Share your results and opinions in the comment section below. Also, subscribe to never miss a recipe.

    Till then,

    Make it delicious and quick!

    📝 Recipe Card

    cabbage curry recipe for 4 people being served

    Cabbage Curry Recipe ( cabbage sabzi)

    Meenakshi
    This North Indian-style cabbage curry recipe makes a perfect weekday meal. It is easy to prep and quick to cook. Whether you like tender, melt-in-mouth cabbage or crispy cabbage, you can adapt this recipe to your taste. Spiced with the basic Indian spices and the subtle tang of tomato, this cabbage sabzi ( Patta gobhi sabzi) will become your staple cabbage recipe.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4
    Calories 137 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ Red Onion finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Ginger grated
    • 4-5 Garlic cloves minced
    • 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ Red Chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon Garam masala/ curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon coriander powder (optional)
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato paste
    • 3 cups cabbage chopped
    • 1 cup green peas

    Instructions
     

    Step 1 Prep the ingredients

    • Start by chopping the cabbage. Wash, dry, and set it aside
    • Chop the onion finely, mince garlic, and grated ginger.
    • Pull out all the spices and keep them at a hand's distance.

    Step 2 Preparing masala for cabbage curry

    • In a skillet heat oil. And add cumin seeds.
    • When the seeds start to sizzle add chopped onions, ginger, and garlic.
    • Sauté them at medium heat. When they turn golden, it is time to add all the dry spices.
    • First, reduce the heat to low, and then start by adding turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt.
    • Give them a quick stir and add 2-3 tablespoons of water.
    • Let the spices cook for a minute and then add tomato paste.
    • Stir and cook the tomato paste for 2 minutes.
    • When the masala starts to leave oil, it is ready for the veggies.

    Step 3 Adding and cooking cabbage

    • Add peas and mix well.
    • Add the chopped cabbage and use a ladle to gently coat the cabbage with the masala.
    • Now cover the skillet and let the cabbage curry cook at low-medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Adjust the cooking time depending on how you like your cabbage.
    • Garnish with scallions, or cilantro and serve hot with roti.

    Notes

    •  Wash the cabbage after chopping and let it dry in a colander. Make it dry and avoid putting any additional water in the sabzi as the cabbage will have enough water to cook itself.
    • If you are new to Indian cooking, then, measure the spices and have them ready in a small bowl. When we add powdered spices to the pan, they cook super-fast, so have some water ready to bring down the temperature instantly.
    • Replace red onion with shallots or yellow onions.
    • Replace tomato paste with 3 medium-sized tomatoes.
    • Adjust the cooking time according to your taste.
    • If you want to keep your cabbage super crispy, then add salt at the end.
    • There is no need for any additional water for cooking the cabbage. It is best to cook cabbage covered on low heat. The moisture released by the cabbage is enough to cook itself.
    • Add chopped potatoes or carrots to replace or supplement peas. 
    • If you want the cabbage curry to be crunchy, just cook enough to get rid of the rawness and turn off the flame when the cabbage leaves are still crunchy. But if you like buttery tender cabbage, cook enough till that stage is reached. It took me 7 minutes at a low-medium flame.

    📋 Nutrition facts

    table showing nutrition facts about the cabbage sabzi

    Nutrition

    Calories: 137kcal
    Keyword cabbage curry, cabbage curry recipe, cabbage sabzi
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More main dish

    • gobi manchurian made in air fryeris topped with greens
      Gobi Manchurian in Air Fryer
    • glorious creamy paneer butter masala topped with a swirl of heavy cream
      Butter Paneer Masala in Instant Pot
    • indian zucchini curry recipe served with roti
      Indian Zucchini Curry ( Zucchini Sabzi)
    • a cheesy pizza made with the poolish pizza dough showing perfectly airy and light crust
      Poolish Pizza Dough

    Please Share!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sussane

      April 04, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      Delish! just delish! Loving this new way to enjoy cabbage. My third one is a cabbage fan, so I am always looking for new cabbage recipes. This cabbage curry is a great addition to my culinary treasure. Thanks a lot.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, Welcome!

    Explore my passion project - a celebration of bread and sourdough recipes - all egg-free! Here you will also find vegetarian dishes inspired by my Indian heritage, bringing together the art of fermentation with the vibrant flavors and traditions I grew up with.

    More about me →

    Popular Bread Recipes

    • sourdough chocolate bread texture
      Sourdough chocolate bread recipe: Easy and delicious !
    • Japanese milk bread with sourdough
      How to make Sourdough Hokkaido Milk Bread
    • wheat pita bread
      A complete guide for wheat pita bread: sourdough/ Yeast
    • hot dog buns made up of sourdough starter
      How to make sourdough hot dog buns from scratch?

    SUBSCRIBE

    Signup for the new recipes!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    Popular Air-Fryer Recipes

    • a stack of Frozen spring rolls made in air fryer
      Frozen spring rolls in air fryer: Quick, easy, and crispy!
    • 7 air fried biscuits
      A Guide to Make Biscuits in Air Fryer
    • 10 frozen potstickers made in air fryer served in a plate with sauces
      Frozen potstickers in air fryer: The best way to make frozen dumplings
    • cumin spiced air fryer frozen broccoli
      Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli Spiced to Perfection!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 theflavorbells.com

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required