Cabbage Rice (Indian Style)
Cabbage Rice is a simple Indian-style rice preparation in which cooked rice is stir-fried with cabbage, onion, and spices. Make it using my easy recipe and serve it on its own or with raita.
If you like this recipe, you can also try Pudina Rice, Wadi Chawal, South Indian Lemon Rice, Ellu Sadam, and Masala Rice.
Cabbage Peas Shaak is the cabbage dish I most frequently make. However, it uses only half cabbage, as it is more than enough for two of us. The leftover half cabbage sits in the fridge until it goes stale.
I was telling this cabbage story to one of my friends, and she suggested that I use it to make fried rice. I wondered why this amazing thought never came to my mind. But, well, you cannot expect so much from that little guy!
Anyway, here is the cabbage fried rice recipe for you all. Never waste cabbage again!
About Cabbage Rice
This Indian Style Cabbage Rice is an easy and delicious preparation in which leftover rice is stir-fried with cabbage, onions, and basic Indian spices.
This wholesome rice recipe requires minimal effort and basic pantry ingredients.
Cabbage rice is great for everyday Indian-style meals and is also a great dish to pack in an office or school lunch box.
Serve it with plain yogurt (curd, dahi) or raita. To elevate its taste, serve crispy papads and pickles along with it.
Ingredients
Cooked Rice – I prefer long-grain basmati rice to make cabbage rice, but you can also use short-grain rice. The rice must be properly cooled before making the recipe; otherwise, it will be mushy when stir-fried.
You can replace rice with cooked quinoa, brown rice, couscous, or millet.
Cabbage – I used green cabbage to make this recipe, but you can also try using purple cabbage (red cabbage).
Oil – Use any cooking oil, such as canola oil, light olive oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, or peanut oil. You can replace oil with ghee as well.
Others – You will also need some other basic pantry ingredients such as cumin seeds, brown mustard seeds, onions, green chilies, ginger, garlic, roasted cumin powder, salt, black pepper powder, and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).
How To Make Indian-Style Cabbage Rice
Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
Add ½ cup chopped onions and cook until the onions are light brown, stirring frequently.
Add the following ingredients and cook for a minute.
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies
- 2 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
Now, add the following ingredients and mix well.
- 2 cups finely shredded cabbage
- ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir a few times while cooking.
Add 2 cups of cooked rice and ½ teaspoon black pepper powder to the pan and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Question
If your knife skills are good, then use a sharp knife to shred the cabbage. You can also use a food processor fitted with a shredding tool or a julienne peeler to shred it.
Pro Tips By Neha
I suggest using leftover rice to make this cabbage rice recipe. Freshly cooked rice might become mushy when stir-fried.
If you are using freshly cooked rice, let it cool completely or refrigerate it for an hour or two before using it in the recipe.
I prefer to shred the cabbage for the pulao, but you can finely chop it.
Avoid garlic and onion and follow the same recipe instructions for a no onion, no garlic version.
Add other veggies like green beans, green peas, bell peppers, etc, to this recipe to make it even more nutritious.
Storage Suggestions
Leftover cabbage rice can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a pan or microwave until nicely hot before serving. Splash a little water when reheating to prevent the rice from drying.
You Might Also Like
Craving more? Subscribe to Whisk Affair to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Cabbage Rice Recipe (Indian Style)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chillies
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
- 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
- ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
- Add onions and cook until the onions are light brown, stirring frequently.
- Add green chilies, ginger, and garlic, and cook for a minute.
- Now, add cabbage, roasted cumin powder, and salt and mix well.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir a few times while cooking.
- Add cooked rice and black pepper powder and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot.