Cabbage Poriyal

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Cabbage poriyal recipe with step by step photos – Lightly spiced, sauteed and steamed cabbage recipe from South Indian cuisine. It makes for an excellent vegan side dish with sambar, rasam or any South Indian meal. Try this easy and inexpensive cabbage side dish tonight!

cabbage poriyal recipe

I often make poriyals and a veggie roast, when I make sambar or rasam. I choose to make them as an accompanying side dish, since they taste good with sambar-rice combo and they are also easy to prepare.

This cabbage poriyal recipe uses pearl onions, but you can even skip them. Or you can use onions instead of pearl onions.

In this recipe i have used green cabbage. But feel free to swap it with red cabbage.

By now I have shared quite a number of poriyal recipes like Beetroot poriyal, Beans poriyal and Vendakkai poriyal.

Most poriyal recipes are easy and quick to prepare. Even a beginner can make them easily.

You can serve it as a side dish with sambar-rice or rasam-rice combo. Or you can have it with roti, plain paratha or lachha paratha or with bread slices. It can also be packed in the lunch box.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Cabbage Poriyal

1. Peel and remove the top skin from the cabbage. Rinse. Quarter the cabbage and blanch in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then shred cabbage or chop it.

I used 350 grams of cabbage, which yielded 4 cups of tightly packed shredded cabbage.

shredded cabbage for cabbage poriyal

Preparing tempering

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil or any oil (sunflower, peanut or safflower oil) in a shallow pan. Lower the heat and add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and crackle them.

mustard for cabbage poriyal recipe

3. Once the mustard seeds begin to crackle and pop, add 1 teaspoon urad dal (husked and split black gram).

dal for cabbage poriyal recipe

4. Saute the urad dal till it starts changing color.

dal for cabbage poriyal recipe

5. The urad dal should become a maroonish color. Saute on a low heat, so that the urad dal does not get burnt. 

TIP: Chana dal (Bengal Gram) can be added instead of urad dal. If adding chana dal, then soak them for 30 minutes in hot water.

After 30 minutes drain all the water and add the chana dal. Then saute the chana dal while tempering, instead of urad dal.

urad dal for cabbage poriyal recipe

6. Then add ¼ cup sliced pearl onions (sambar onions) or shallots. You can also use ¼ cup of finely chopped onions.

Also add 10 to 12 curry leaves and 1 to 2 green chilies, chopped. You can also use 1 to 2 dry red chilies instead of green chilies.

onions for cabbage poriyal recipe

7. Saute for a minute.

onions for cabbage poriyal recipe

8. Then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and a pinch of asafoetida (hing).

turmeric for cabbage poriyal recipe

9. Stir well.

making cabbage poriyal recipe

Making cabbage poriyal

10. Then add the shredded cabbage. Also, season with salt as required. Stir and mix again very well.

cabbage for cabbage poriyal recipe

11. Add ¼ cup of water. Stir again.

water for cabbage poriyal recipe

12. Then cover the pan with a tight lid. On a low heat simmer the cabbage till its cooked.

making cabbage poriyal

13. Check after every 5 to 6 minutes and give a stir so that the cabbage does not get burnt.

cooking cabbage poriyal

14. If the water has dried up and the cabbage is not cooked, sprinkle some more water (about 3 to 4 tablespoons). Cover and continue to cook.

making cabbage poriyal recipe

15. In the below pic, the cabbage has cooked and become tender. There should be no water in the poriyal before you proceed to the next step.

making cabbage poriyal recipe

16. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of grated fresh coconut.

coconut for cabbage poriyal

17. Stir very well.

making cabbage poriyal recipe

18. Lastly add 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves to cabbage poriyal. This step is optional and you can skip the coriander leaves.

coriander for cabbage poriyal

19. Stir and Serve cabbage poriyal hot or warm as a side dish with sambar-rice or rasam rice. You can also have it with Indian flatbreads like roti, plain paratha or with bread. It can also be packed in a tiffin box.

cabbage poriyal


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cabbage poriyal recipe

Cabbage Poriyal

Cabbage poriyal is a lightly spiced, sauteed and steamed cabbage recipe from South Indian cuisine.
4.87 from 22 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Cuisine South Indian, Tamil Nadu
Course Side Dish
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 3 to 4
Units

Ingredients

  • 350 grams cabbage or 4 cups tightly packed chopped or shredded cabbage
  • 2 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 6 to 7 pearl onions or shallots or ¼ cup sliced pearl onions or shallots or onions
  • 1 to 2 green chilies, chopped or 1 to 2 dry red chilies, deseeded and broken
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon husked split black gram (urad dal)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • ¼ cup water or add as required
  • 3 to 4 tablespoon grated fresh coconut
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves, chopped
  • salt as required

Instructions
 

preparation

  • Peel and remove the top skin from the cabbage. Rinse. 
  • Quarter the cabbage and blanch in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then shred cabbage or chop it. I used 350 grams cabbage, which yielded 4 cups tightly packed shredded cabbage.

making tempering for cabbage poriyal

  • Heat 2 tbsp sesame oil or any oil (sunflower, peanut or safflower oil) in a shallow pan. Lower the flame and add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds and crackle them.
  • Once the mustard seeds begin to crackle and pop, add 1 tsp urad dal/husked split black gram.
  • Saute the urad dal till it starts changing color. The urad dal should become a maroonish color. Saute on a low flame, so that the urad dal does not get burnt.
  • Then add ¼ cup sliced pearl onions (sambar onions) or shallots. You can also use 1/4 cup of finely chopped onions. Also add 10 to 12 curry leaves and 1 to 2 green chilies, chopped. You can also use 1 to 2 dry red chilies instead of green chilies.
  • Saute for a minute.
  • Then add ¼ tsp turmeric powder and a pinch of asafoetida. Stir well.

making cabbage poriyal

  • Then add the shredded cabbage. Also season with salt.
  • Stir and mix again very well.
  • Add ¼ cup of water. Stir again.
  • Then cover the pan with a tight lid. On a low flame simmer the cabbage till its cooked.
  • Check after every 5 to 6 minutes and give a stir.
  • If the water has dried up and the cabbage is not cooked, sprinkle some more water. Cover and continue to cook.
  • Cook till the cabbage becomes tender. There should be no water in the poriyal before you proceed to the next step.
  • Then add 3 tbsp grated coconut and mix very well.
  • Lastly add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. This step is optional and you can skip the coriander leaves.
  • Stir and serve cabbage poriyal hot or warm as a side dish with sambar-rice or rasam rice. It can also be served with roti or plain paratha or with bread. It can also be packed in lunch box.

Notes

  • The recipe can be doubled or tripled.
  • To make the dish gluten-free skip adding asafoetida or use gluten-free asafoetida.
  • You can use green cabbage or red cabbage.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Cabbage Poriyal
Amount Per Serving
Calories 167 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 463mg20%
Potassium 303mg9%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 260IU5%
Vitamin C 115.6mg140%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Cabbage Poriyal post from the blog archives first published in November 2015 has been updated and republished on January 2023.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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17 Comments

  1. Loved it and it was so easy to make too! Loved that you recommended the right oil to make it with. Made all the difference.5 stars

  2. I love this cabbage recipe. It reminds me of cabbage thoran but has a slightly different taste and texture. Thank you!5 stars

  3. I have always loved this cabbage poriyal when I was young in Malaysia but having moved to England, I’ve never made it. Finally I did and it’s so yummy! Compliments from my guests as well! Thanks. Love your website.5 stars

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