I don’t know about you, but I’ve been getting a lot of cabbage from local farms + produce boxes lately. While I love cabbage, I don’t always think to use it in a smoothie or meal… and then it ends up going bad. Well, not anymore! Check out my list of amazing, healthy cabbage recipes that utilize this leafy veggie in delicious ways. These raw cabbage recipes will have you seeking this fun vegetable out next time you produce shop.
Cabbage in a green smoothie?!
I’m a HUGE fan of putting leafy greens in smoothies… if you haven’t caught on to that by now. Leafy greens aid in digestion with added fiber, as well as add a great host of nutrients + protein to any recipe.
Cabbage is no different, but its extra amounts of vitamin C and K + antioxidants make it truly unique. I know when most of us think of cabbage recipes (healthy or not), we go straight to sauerkraut or boiled cabbage, yet that’s NOT what I’m going for here (though I am working on a sauerkraut smoothie recipe!). Raw cabbage can be mild in flavor, and comes in 4 different colors… what more can you want in a vegetable?
Being a cruciferous leafy green, cabbage has been linked with being able to reduce inflammationβeven chronic inflammation. It’s loaded with antioxidants that help to fight for the good of your body!
Healthy cabbage smoothies
Green smoothies are super versatile, and when rotating your greens, cabbage is a great option. Simply swap out whatever leafy green a recipe calls for, and add in cabbage. Since this vegetable is a bit more dense than some, try adding in 1/4 of a head first, then upping the amount if you wish.
Adding cabbage to meals
Now that I know adding cabbage to smoothies is super simple, how do I incorporate it into more meals?! Honestly, if a recipe calls for shredded kale or lettuce, swap with cabbage once in a while.
You’ll see in the cabbage recipe round up below that this ingredient is versatile. Use it in place of a tortilla shell, a salad topping, a vegetarian slaw, or to brighten up a veggie bowl. The possibilities are endless!
Healthy cabbage recipes
Here are my fav raw cabbage recipes. If you weren’t the biggest cabbage fan before this post, then I dare you to tell me your love for cabbage hasn’t grown since trying out a few of these awesome recipes.
Plant based tacos– Whether you make this recipe as-is, or swap in your fav taco meat, these cabbage ‘taco shells’ are so good! First, they really do make for a hearty shell that is still bendable. Second, they bring the flavors together while also adding a bit of deliciousness all their own. Healthy cabbage meals shouldn’t be boring… and this one certainly isn’t!
Loaded sweet potato– This recipe is from my Fresh Start cleanse, and is a serious fan favorite. Feel free to swap in green or white cabbage if you don’t have purple on hand, it will still provide the crunch you need! This healthy cabbage recipe is loaded with plant based protein + healthy fat for an energizing meal.
Vegetarian ramen– This bowl has been my go-to recipe in this season of life. I can grab whatever fresh veggies my garden has ready, then whip this up in no time. I love adding raw cabbage to this recipe at the last minute. That way it doesn’t completely wilt in the warm broth.
Cabbage smoothie– The recipe below might sound odd, but give it a try! It has helped me many a time when I felt cold symptoms coming on. Plus, it’s just a refreshing smoothie in general. Love this cabbage smoothie? Then I’ve got another delicious option for you to check out here.
Healthy cabbage recipes don’t have to be weird or boring. All of these recipes are tasty, nutrient dense, and fun to make!
Healthy Cabbage Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup green cabbage
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 orange, peeled
- 1 cup pineapple, frozen
- 1/8 cup golden beet, peeled and cubed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp flaxseed oil
- Protein Smoothie Boost, optional
Instructions
- Blend the cabbage, water, and orange until smooth.
- Add the pineapple, beet, lemon juice, and flaxseed oil and blend again.
Nutrition
More smoothies with vegetables
If you loved this veggie-packed smoothie, then you might be looking for some like these:
- Ultimate fruit and vegetable smoothie
- Alkaline veggie smoothie cubes
- Apple celery smoothie
- Cherry beet smoothie
- Fat burning smoothie
- Glowing green smoothie
- Anti inflammatory smoothie
Don’t forget to leave a rating + review below to let me know how you liked this smoothie, as well as the other healthy cabbage recipes I shared.
I am going to try .what a brilliant idea.
Never thought of using cabbage in a smoothie. Pulling me outside the box again SGS!
I am not a fan of cabbage but once i tried this I was very pleased.
Yay Kimberly! So many of us are outside the box on this one, yet the proof is in the pudding….er, uh smoothie!
I did just a scoop of ground flaxseed in this as I didn’t have flax oil, but my smoothie came out slightly gritty (though still tasted great!). Any good subs for this?
Totally Erin! We’d recommend you check out our Protein Smoothie Boost! It’s specially formulated to blend away cleanly in any smoothie. No grittiness at all! π
Just started making smoothies , great recipes
The cabbage is taking me out of my comfort zone, but if it’s in a Simple Green Smoothies recipe, I have to try it at least once. π
Cabbage in a smoothie? Not my go-to, but I like the challenge and variety of greens I can use. I added a little extra orange to hide the cabbage and beet taste and really enjoyed it.
Love that you rawked this in a way that worked best for you, Dani! Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Leafy Greens for tips on how to swap out your greens on the regular. π
Wow! I never thought of adding cabbage to a smoothie. This is a great option when I don’t know what to do with leftovers.
Right?! Now we know what smoothie to blend right after St. Patrick’s day next year! π
Hi, I am looking forward to making this smoothie. Do you have a recommendation for a substitute for the beet? I don’t like beets at all, even in smoothies!
Thanks
Thanks for the great list! I get cabbage in my produce box sometimes, and I get stumped with how to use it.
Yes I made this, but might not be advisable if you have cold sores in your mouth
True, Alfreda. Because of the oranges, it might sting and/or just not feel great to drink if you have cold sores. Sorry that happened to you. π
Give our lemon, ginger & honey drink a try. That should feel better to drink and also help with your cold.
there is a huge difference between protein in say spinach and that in cabbage but you infer they are the same. Doubt that > Google it…
Doubt you’ll post this on your site >> integrity, transparency is clearly not your strong point when you inflate the protein content of cabbage. Do better!
We never claimed nor inferred that spinach and cabbage have the same protein content; all leafy greens contain some amount of protein, which is what the article says. The protein content of this particular smoothie is stated clearly in the nutrition facts, and that will be different for every smoothie. That’s why we include the nutrition facts with our recipes, for folks who want to keep track of their macros. So sorry this blog post confused you! π
I love this recipe! My kids will guzzle it down too, lol! The only question I have is if there’s a good substitute for the flaxseed oil? I haven’t actually put that in because I never buy it, ha!
Hey Allison,
If you are not a fan of flax seed oil you can totally swap it for coconut oil instead!
Hope that helps π