Grilled Cabbage Steaks with Cilantro-Lime Sauce

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 40 min (includes time for soaking skewers)
  • Active: 25 min
These smoky cabbage steaks make a hearty side dish, but they're also substantial enough to serve as a vegetarian main dish if you add a grain or some beans. Our easy herb sauce made in the blender is light, bright and very versatile. If you have any leftover, it can serve as a salad dressing or a drizzle for other grilled foods.
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Ingredients

2 cups lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves

2 cups lightly packed fresh Italian parsley leaves

2 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled

1 medium jalapeño, stemmed and coarsely chopped

Zest and juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons juice)

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

Kosher salt

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 medium head savoy cabbage

1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

Directions

Special equipment:
wooden or metal skewers
  1. Prepare a grill for medium heat. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 15 minutes.
  2. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the cilantro, 1 1/2 cups of the parsley, the garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, rice vinegar, honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender and blend on high until smooth. With the blender running, drizzle in the oil in a slow stream to make a very smooth sauce. Transfer to a serving bowl and season with more salt, if needed. 
  3. Remove any loose leaves from the exterior of the cabbage and set it on its stem end. Cut a thin piece off one side of the cabbage to make it flat; then slice a thin piece off the other side of the cabbage. (Reserve the pieces for another use.) Slice the cabbage vertically to make 4 thick steaks, each about 3/4- to 1-inch thick.  
  4. Lay the steaks on a baking sheet and stick a skewer horizontally through any that are not holding together. Brush both sides of the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle with the lime zest, ancho powder and 1 teaspoon salt.
  5. Grill the steaks, covered, moving them occasionally so they cook evenly, until charred and crisp-tender, 6 to 7 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter, brush the tops lightly with olive oil and remove any skewers you used. 
  6. Coarsely chop the remaining 1/2 cup cilantro and 1/2 cup parsley. Drizzle about half of the sauce over the cabbage. Sprinkle with the herbs and red onion and serve the remaining sauce on the side. 

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Anonymous

The sauce is a 5. Ingenuity and combination of flavors a 5. The cabbage a 4. The char is great. Used dried coriander (no fresh cilantro) and we had with rice and beans.

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