Description
Experience the vibrant colour and robust flavour of our red cabbage, perfect for shredding into salads, pickling, braising, or adding a colourful crunch to your favourite dishes. Available in our Local Farm Shop in Bellaghy, Mid Ulster Area.
🥬 Red cabbage is a vibrant, tightly packed leafy vegetable known for its deep purple-red hue and crisp texture. Here’s a full breakdown of its characteristics:
🌈 Appearance & Structure
- Compact, round heads with smooth, waxy leaves
- Color ranges from reddish-purple to bluish tones, depending on soil pH
- Inner leaves are lighter and more tender than the darker outer ones
- Prominent white veins run through the leaves
🍽️ Flavour Profile
- Raw: Peppery and slightly bitter, with a crunchy bite
- Cooked: Sweeter and milder, especially when braised or pickled
- Pairs well with apples, vinegar, citrus, and spices
🧪 Unique Traits
- Contains anthocyanins, pigments responsible for its color
- Acts as a natural pH indicator: turns red in acidic environments and green/yellow in alkaline ones
- Color can shift during cooking unless acid (like vinegar) is added
🌱 Cultivation & Seasonality
- Grows best in cool, moist climates
- Typically planted in spring and harvested in late autumn
- Tolerates light frost, which can enhance its sweetness and color
🥗 Culinary Uses
- Popular in coleslaw, salads, stir-fries, and fermented dishes like sauerkraut
- Common in German, Eastern European, and Asian cuisines
- Often served with meats or used as a colorful garnish
💪 Nutritional Highlights
- Low in calories, high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants
- Contains glucosinolates, compounds linked to anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties
