Is there any savoy cabbage substitute to make a delectable slaw or a crunchy salad? It’s a question of every one who loves munching on healthy salads and coleslaw in a routine diet.
If you’re also a crazy fan of the delicate flavor of savoy cabbage, keep it always in your pantry to satisfy your craving. Most of the time, people are unable to find savoy cabbage in the market aisles and think of its closer alternative.
Generally, substituting savoy cabbage isn’t challenging if you’ve the right ingredients on hand. Here is a complete guide to the most suitable savoy cabbage replacements you must have any of them. Also, you need to know which alternative pairs well with which kind of recipe.
So, enhance your understanding of such substitution to make your cooking versatile and enjoyable.
Savoy Cabbage Substitute
Savoy cabbage has certainly similar crinkled or ruffled leaves to napa cabbage with a uniquely distinct mouthfeel. The tender and crispy leaves turn into a delicate savory treat on steaming, braising, and boiling. One can also enjoy a real crunch of savoy cabbage in slaws and salads.
No matter whatever dish you’re going to make with savoy cabbage, consider the following substitutes when you’re unable to find it anywhere.
1. Napa Cabbage
Napa cabbage is a great alternative to savoy cabbage in terms of mild flavor irrespective of the appearance. Its leaves grow loosely in an oval-shaped head rather than a tight round head like savoy cabbage.
Prepare napa cabbage by either steaming, braising, or stir-frying to relish the milder yet delicate flavor closely related to savoy cabbage. The larger napa leaves are good to wrap savory fillings and are also a great option for shredding.
Additionally, napa cabbage is usually common for pickling or making savory condiments like kimchi. So, next time buy some extra napa cabbage to switch savoy cabbage too.
2. Green Cabbage
Next to napa cabbage, green cabbage is the best substitution for savoy cabbage. Green cabbage possesses the same tightly-packed curly leaves as savoy cabbage with a bit stronger flavor dash.
So, round off the conventional flavor of green cabbage by incorporating earthy spices into the recipes to get savoy cabbage mouthfeel. Blanching and subsequent draining of shredded green cabbage can also minimize the flavor difference.
3. Bok Choy
Bok choy is such a versatile substitute for savoy cabbage wonderfully goes well in a variety of Chinese cuisines. The leaves present a noticeable color contrast with a pretty darker green towards edges.
The softer part of the leaves is better to swap savoy cabbage in stir-frying and stuffing recipes. While the lower half containing a tougher stem goes well in salads and slaws. It’s milder in flavor with a similar cabbage-like aroma.
When dealing with bok choy stem, it’s recommended not to overcook it because it tends to become unappealingly mushy.
4. Curly Lettuce
The roughly long and curly leaves of this versatile endive variety are good to be used instead of savoy cabbage in salads and slaws. Cooking makes curly lettuce tender, milder, and pliable to serve with your beloved savory creations.
When raw, the curly leaves offer a stronger bite-tasting with a bitter aftertaste. In spite of that, curly lettuce is a great wrapper for meat-based fillings and stuffing as savoy cabbage.
5. Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are just mini cabbages richer in flavor and distinct aroma. These are not good to add to all stunning recipes calling for savoy cabbage. Rather they work great in stews, soups, and salads in place of savoy cabbage.
Shredded brussel sprouts will never make you feel like there’s no savoy cabbage in your bite. Braising and steaming are the best ways to draw delicate flavor goodness out of these tiny cabbages.
6. Kale
Kale is a cabbage cultivar usually grown for its edible leaves that’re not tightly packed and crinkled like savoy cabbage. It’s an emergency substitute you can try when nothing else is ready to be used next.
The stronger kale flavor can be made milder and more delicate by either blanching, braising, or steaming. Thereby, you can use kale in place of savoy cabbage in soups and stews. Its thick tender leaves are not good to use in salads and slaws. Similarly, kale is a good substitute for spinach in soup.
Savoy Cabbage Substitutes | |
Ingredients | Best For? |
Napa cabbage | Stir-frying, filling, stuffing, and salads |
Green cabbage | Braising, sautéing, grilling, and soups |
Bok choy | Grilling, stuffing, filling, and braising |
Curly lettuce | Wrapping, steaming, and slaws |
Brussel sprouts | Roasting, stir-frying, and salads |
Kale | Grilling, roasting, stuffing, and casseroles |
FAQ’s
Can I Substitute Regular Cabbage For Savoy Cabbage?
And the answer is a big yes. Savoy cabbage resembles regular cabbage in many ways including intrigued leaves and ruffly texture. When used in salads or slaws, there will be a bit difference of final mouthfeel.
However, it goes really great in stews and soups offering similar delicate goodness as savoy cabbage. It’s also easy to find and cheaper to get rather than savoy cabbage.
Is Savoy Cabbage The Same As White Cabbage?
White cabbage is a handy replacement for savoy cabbage in all your fine dining recipes. Similar in leaf texture and delicate crunch, white cabbage offers a mildly sweet and earthy flavor to a variety of cuisines and casseroles.
However, it’s usually not preferred because of its rare availability in the market. But if you’ve it by chance, make your savoy treat deliciously splendid using white cabbage.
Does The Savoy Cabbage And Green Cabbage Taste The Same?
No, both these cabbages are not tasted the same. There will always be a bit flavor difference which is unique to each variety.
Green cabbage offers a strong peppery flavor with a delicate crunch while savoy cabbage fills the mouth with a mildly sweet and vegetal aftertaste. However, cooking makes this flavor difference insignificant and enrich recipes equally.
Conclusion
It’s only normal to substitute items in the kitchen from time to time, and savoy cabbage isn’t an exception. It may be because of the unavailability or the pricing, or maybe you want a slightly different flavor in your food. Whatever the reason for seeking savoy cabbage substitutes is, this article will significantly assist you.
