Chandana's Cabbage with Mustard Seeds & Curry Leaves

Chandana is a dear friend whose husband is a boarding school headmaster. I needn’t tell you how eccentric the place is because a documentary maker has done that job for me in a recently released film (In Loco Parentis) which catches the atmosphere perfectly. I am not quite sure why, but the last time we cooked together we ended up in the school kitchen. It was freezing cold and all the pots were enormous, even all the implements seemed over-sized. We laughed our way through - a mixture of hilarity and hysteria. The dish that outshone even the craziness of the evening was her cabbage with mustard seeds. I have cooked it numerous times since and it does not require such unique surroundings. Chandana’s cabbage - East meets West.

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To prepare the Chandana's Cabbage with Mustard Seeds & Curry Leaves

Remove the dark green outer leaves from the cabbage and discard any that are damaged. Remove the thick central vein from the outer leaves. Slice the cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Sit each quarter on the chopping board and shred thinly crossways.

Heat a large frying pan and when hot, add the oil. Test the temperature by adding a few mustard seeds. They should sizzle quietly. Throw in the rest of the mustard seeds and heat until they start popping and jumping. At this point, toss in the curry leaves. They will spit a little as they hit the oil and curl up instantly. Slide the cabbage from the chopping board into the pan. Sprinkle over the chilli powder, season with salt and sauté over a medium heat until the cabbage starts to soften, adding a dash of water during the process. Toss the cabbage regularly over a medium heat until it has wilted but still retains some crunch. Check for seasoning and for heat. Another pinch of chilli powder may be just what it needs. If you are not serving the cabbage immediately, spread it out on a tray to cool quickly.

Ingredients

  • 1 head savoy cabbage
    2-3 tbsp sunflower oil
    1 tbsp black mustard seeds
    12-14 curry leaves
    1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder (Deggi Mirch brand)
    salt

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