Description
Marry Me Melting Cabbage with Creamy Tuscan Sauce is a rich and comforting dish featuring tender cabbage wedges simmered and baked in a luscious cream cheese and sun-dried tomato sauce infused with aromatic herbs and Parmesan cheese. This flavorful, oven-baked side or main course perfectly balances the caramelized sweetness of seared cabbage with a velvety, herb-infused sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Cabbage and Seasoning
- 1 head (900-1100 g) green cabbage, cut into 8 wedges with core intact
- 1 tsp (6 g) table salt
- ½ tsp (1 g) black pepper
- 1 tsp (1 g) red pepper flakes (optional)
For Searing and Sauce Base
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (28 g) butter
- ½ cup (75 g) finely diced red onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 4 oz. (113 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
Flavorings and Cheese
- ½ cup (60 g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, julienned
- 1 tsp (1 g) dried oregano leaves
- 1 tsp (1 g) dried thyme leaves
- ½ tsp (0.5 g) dried rosemary leaves
- ½ cup (45 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the cabbage later.
- Prepare Cabbage: Cut the green cabbage into 8 wedges, keeping the core intact on each wedge to hold them together during cooking.
- Sear Cabbage: Heat olive oil in a 12-inch oven-safe cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the cabbage wedges for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. If necessary, work in batches. Transfer the seared cabbage to a plate and season with salt and pepper.
- Sauté Aromatics: Lower the heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet, then cook the finely diced red onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the skillet, scraping up any flavorful browned bits stuck to the pan’s bottom.
- Add Cream Cheese: Incorporate the softened and cubed cream cheese into the broth and whisk continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the mixture becomes smooth.
- Create Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, additional salt and pepper to taste, and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer the sauce gently for 2 to 3 minutes to allow it to slightly thicken, then remove the skillet from heat.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir until it is completely melted and well combined, resulting in a creamy, flavorful Tuscan sauce.
- Assemble Dish: Nestle the seared cabbage wedges back into the skillet, spooning the creamy Tuscan sauce generously over the top to coat them evenly.
- Bake Covered: Cover the skillet with foil or a lid to trap the moisture, and bake the cabbage in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to allow the wedges to become tender while soaking in the sauce.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil or lid, baste the cabbage wedges with the sauce from the bottom of the skillet, and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the cabbage is fork-tender and the sauce is bubbling.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the baked cabbage rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese to enhance flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Using a cast iron skillet helps achieve a nice sear on the cabbage and is oven-safe for baking the dish all in one pan.
- The core on the cabbage wedges should remain intact to hold the wedges together during cooking.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil add rich flavor; drain and julienne them before adding to the sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level or omit for a milder dish.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Letting the dish rest after baking allows the sauce to thicken slightly and intensifies the flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tuscan, Italian
Keywords: Melting Cabbage, Creamy Tuscan Sauce, Baked Cabbage, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, Comfort Food, Italian Side Dish
