Crunchy Crispy Cabbage

A cabbage side dish bursting with crunch and flavour-- This unusual, but very easy recipe turns a sometimes 'ho-hum' vegetable into a lot of fun! Fresh cilantro perks up the already intriguing taste of cabbage, onions and cumin. Sweet sultanas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds complete the list of nutritious ingredients. A lunch guest described Crunchy Crispy Cabbage as "full of good, complex flavour...surprising for something that looks so simple." Try it with a favorite meal, or make it with red cabbage for a holiday feel. It's sure to delight most appetites.

You'll Need: 

1 large sweet onion; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder; 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 1 teaspoon tamari; cayenne pepper to taste; 1 tablespoon sultanas; 2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage; 1/2 lemon; 1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves; 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked; 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked.

Soak sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in fresh water for 2 hours before using. Drain and set aside to dry. Skin and chop sweet onion. Place in large pot with olive oil over medium heat. Saute until soft and translucent. Add cumin seeds, and stir fry to lightly toast. Stir in coriander and allspice into onions. Mix in sultanas. Add tamari sauce, and mix well. Remove pot from heat and cover. Let dish rest for a few minutes until sultanas are plump and spices have mingle with the onions.

Coarsely chop the cabbage. Return pot of onions and spices to a burner at medium-high heat. Add cabbage and stir fry until cooked to your liking (some people like it very soft; others prefer a definite crunch between the teeth). Spritz cabbage with the juice of half a lemon. Sprinkle with cayenne powder, if used.

Remove the dish from the heat, and stir in pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Mix well. Add fresh coriander, and lightly toss all ingredients together.

Garnish with a few fresh coriander leaves and serve. This recipe is very good when eaten hot, or at room temperature. Chilling it before serving turns it in to a different but delicious side salad. Enjoy your crispy cabbage crunch!  

For thoughts about food, visit http://zen-cuisine.blogspot.com/