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Savoy Cabbage Gratin, meltingly tender comfort

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If one wants evidence that cooking is an alchemical process, one need look no further than this rich, savory puddle of a gratin that once was a head of savoy cabbage.

Savoy is the frilly, ruffled member of the cabbage family. Its leaves are more tender than green or red cabbage, and its flavor is milder and more delicate.

Savoy Cabbage on a counter

This savoy cabbage gratin comes from Molly Stevens’s wonderful book All About Braising.

If you’re looking for simple warm comforting winter meals, this book is a great source for them.

This recipe, in particular, is a standout.

A red Dutch oven on a kitchen towel

It has only five ingredients: savoy cabbage, scallions, stock (chicken or vegetable), butter, and a nice creamy French cheese like Saint Marcellin, Saint Andre, or Delice de Bourgogne.

And it only takes about 15 minutes of active work.

Slice savoy cabbage

The oven does the rest.

It’s incredibly simple.

And what emerges is a meltingly tender, rich, savory gratin that tastes so delicious, that, as Dan said, “it’s hard to believe it’s cabbage.”

It doesn’t look like much, but the brothy puddle at the bottom of the pan is so good you’ll want to sop it up with crusty bread.

Thinly sliced savoy cabbage on a cutting board

It’s as warming and comforting to me as a pan of macaroni and cheese, but it’s mostly vegetables.

This is, I think, the sort of dish that could make cabbage skeptics reconsider. It’s the kind of dish I want all winter long.

Savoy Cabbage Gratin in a red Dutch oven overhead view
Yield: 2-3 servings as a main dish, 4-6 as a side

Savoy Cabbage Gratin with Delice de Bourgogne

Savoy Cabbage Gratin in a red Dutch oven overhead view

This dish takes a simple head of savoy cabbage and transforms it into something tender and rich and savory and delicious. I wouldn’t red cabbage here, and while I think you could get away with green cabbage it's worth noting that savoy is more delicate both in texture and flavor than the other two. I have made this with both chicken and vegetable stock and it’s excellent either way. It’s vegetarian if you make it with vegetable stock; it’s a bit richer with chicken stock. For the cheese, Stevens uses Saint Marcellin, which comes in little individual rounds. I’ve made this with the much easier to find (and cheaper) Saint Andre, and one of my favorite soft cheeses Delice de Bourgogne and it’s been wonderful both ways. Don’t be intimidated by the fancy French cheese names. What you want is a soft, triple cream style of cheese, like Brie or Camembert but with more complex flavor. There are plenty of options out there, but I know that what’s available at any given grocery store varies widely. I think the most widely available cheese in this style is Saint Andre, which I have seen at Trader Joe’s and at our local Jewel. We usually eat this as a light main dish, but it would also be lovely as a vegetable side. As a main, it’s nice with a hunk of crusty bread.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of savoy cabbage, cored, quartered, and sliced into 1/2-inch strips
  • 1 bunch scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 3 ounces Delice de Bourgogne, Saint Marcellin, Saint Andre or any flavorful triple cream style cheese, rind removed and torn or sliced into 1/2-inch chunks

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the butter, scallions, and cabbage and a generous pinch of salt. The cabbage will cook down quite a bit–if it doesn’t all fit at first, let some of it cook down and add the rest when there is room. Saute, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is tender and beginning to brown in spots, about 10-12 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil, and cook for an additional 2 minutes or so. Remove from the heat, cover with a tight fitting lid or aluminum foil, and transfer to the oven.
  2. Cook for 45 minutes. Remove the cover, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Turn the oven up to 375°F, scatter the cheese over the top of the cabbage, and cook, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.
  3. Serve warm, in bowls, as a side or main.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 597Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 206mgSodium: 541mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 35g

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Tuesday 12th of January 2016

[…] about much of the seasonal produce when the pickings are slim. Oh, I like root vegetables and cabbage and squash but sometimes I need a break from all of […]

Marilyn

Monday 30th of November 2015

This looks so delicious! Warm, comforting.....simply succulent. Making this dish this weekend to pair with a baked ham. Can't wait.

Mary

Monday 30th of November 2015

Thanks, Marilyn! Let me know how it turns out.

penofjentx

Monday 16th of November 2015

Just made this with Brie because I'm too lazy to go to a Trader Joe's. I was very skeptical because my past foray with cabbage was a disaster, but even though I couldn't cook this at the correct temperature because of my high-heat roasting chicken with which it shared an oven, it was absolutely divine!!! Can't wait to make it again at the correct temperature. I'm expecting an even silkier cabbage. The Brie was good in this dish. Perhaps I should have cut it more thinly to spread it across the dish but instead I just stirred it around after it was all done and it was delicious.

Mary

Tuesday 17th of November 2015

I'm so glad you liked it! This is definitely one of those things that's so much more than the sum of its parts.

Christine | Vermilion Roots

Monday 19th of October 2015

That's an interesting way to eat cabbage. I'm always looking for new ways to cook cabbage other than stir-fry.

Mary

Monday 19th of October 2015

Christine, I think this really brings out a different side of cabbage. I love it over high heat in a stir fry, but letting it cook slowly in a braise like this really turns it into something soft and perfect for cooler weather.

footnotes and finds

Monday 19th of October 2015

this looks delicious! i never thought of this dish, so creative!

http://www.footnotesandfinds.com

Mary

Monday 19th of October 2015

Thanks! It's one of my favorites.

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