It's been a long time since I've posted a 'new food to me' item and I know a few of you have been curious for me to try fish sauce, well, the seal was finally broken on the bottle... But let's talk about this cabbage first, I love cabbage and am always looking for more ways to make it. This is a very flavorful recipe and one I'd make again... With a few changes:@) Most importantly, I'd cook it for a shorter amount of time, keeping the cabbage crisper. Use
lots of fresh garlic and lime juice and I'd bump up the amount of sweet Thai chile sauce. This would be a perfect side dish for pork chops.
As for fish sauce, I really wish I tried it back when the windows were open! While it may add umami to food (
or is that really "eeew-mami?), the fragrance is not pleasant. It's not something this Yankee sees herself using again, but at least I can say I tried it and cross it off the list!
To recap, this cabbage is a nice different side dish folks, don't hesitate to try it, with or without the fish sauce:@)
4 tsp fresh lime juice
4 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp smabal oelek or sweet red chile sauce-no idea what smabal oelek is and NO it won't be added to my list!
1 Tblsp dark brown sesame oil
8 C sliced green cabbage
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro, optional-I didn't use this
- Mix first four ingredients in small bowl, set aside (the three year old in me wants to say "set outside" if using the fish sauce:@)
- Heat sesame oil in large skillet, add cabbage and cook about seven minutes or until lightly browned.
- Add liquid mixture and cook for another four minutes, stirring well.
- Stir in cilantro if using.
Eat well and have a happy day!
My New Foods List:
(If my sons happen to read this... relax! I still promise fairly "normal" Sunday dinners...)
hominy ~ artichokes ~ fish sauce (I'm scared) ~ leeks ~ almond paste ~ oyster sauce (scared again) ~ gorgonzola ~ dates ~ brisket ~ parsnips ~ adobo ~ meringue powder ~ fennel ~ goat cheese (I'm told to be scared) ~ souffle ~ red velvet anything ~ curry ~ capers ~ chow chow ~ pot stickers ~pho ~ ponzu sauce ~ fondant ~ fire roasted tomatoes ~ Gruyere ~ Quinoa ~ Tetrazzini any kind ~ Divinity ~ Meyer lemon ~ lemon curd ~ shallots ~ turkey tenderloin ~ Chipotle Powder ~ Smoked Turkey Sausage ~ ganache
I'm not a big fan of fish sauce either Lynn, chuckling over "eeew-mami"! I prefer to have the windows open when cabbage is cooking too :)
ReplyDeleteglad you got to cross off fish sauce!
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on the fish sauce too Lynn, but sweet chili sauce is always welcome. I never buy any ingredient I can't pronounce, "smabal oelek" sounds very scary indeed!! I love reading your new foods list, there are a lot of very delicious things still waiting for you :) We never have cabbage except for coleslaw, so I need to expand my horizons too~
ReplyDeleteJenna
I love cabbage and was just thinking yesterday I need to buy some this week! Fish sauce, not so much!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
I use Sambal Oelek all the time. It is just a spicy pepper sauce with a some other spices in the background. I put it on so many things and use it in so many recipes. Delicious and it is one of the few hot sauces that doesn't lose all its heat when you have cooked it. I especially like it mixed with ranch dressing on a chicken wrap or a beef wrap. As for the fish sauce... blech. I agree with you there.
ReplyDeleteLol seems a lot of people dont like fish sauce but some asian food requires it, I dont care for it either but we do use a way smaller amount it gives some foods a better flavor j/s.. Love cabbage though.. Happy Thursday with love Janice
ReplyDeleteYou're so funny, but at least you tried the fish sauce. I'm glad you liked the cabbage dish. It sounds really good with the Sweet red chile sauce. I'll bet leaving out the 2 teaspoons of fish sauce won't make any difference!
ReplyDeleteI've tried many things that I crossed off my list very quickly :) I do love cabbage though and the dish sounds great - minus the fish sauce!
ReplyDeleteI've only used fish sauce a few times, but the dishes were tasty. I tried not to smell it, though! Congrats on checking another food off your list. You've made me hungry for cabbage!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn, It has been forever since I have visited you but my post made me think of you today.
ReplyDeleteThe cabbage does sound delicious. I have never used fish sauce. Maybe i should. NOT. LOL.
Hugs, Jeanne
Hi Lynn, I had a good laugh from your description of the fish sauce adventure. It's made of anchovies, right? Ewww. But they are even worse when they are in their hairy, slimy filet form! I do like cabbage, though, especially crispy or boiled with sausage and mustard! Linda
ReplyDelete