Caramelized Cabbage and Walnut Pasta Recipe (2024)

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Evelyn

I used to do a stir-fry with cabbage, brown rice, and walnuts. Those three ingredients go perfectly together.

Tara Breck

I'm going to make this with wide egg noodles so it's more like my childhood favorite haluski.

Susan

This recipe lends itself fully to substitutions! What I did have was cabbage, garlic, pasta and lemon. What I didn't have was pecorino cheese, leeks or walnuts. Instead I used feta, shallots and onion and pecans. Delightful! This is now my husband's and my favorite cabbage dish!

Mrs B

I frequently make a cabbage pasta like this--walnuts and all. But sometimes I do it with crispy bits of salami on top instead.

MrsMillspaugh

Made this exactly as directed and it was really great. My daughter is a vegetarian and I’m always looking for filling dishes that will work for her and the rest of the family - this totally fits the bill. Everyone loved it! Don’t skip the chives and lemon juice - they brighten up the richness and makes a great contrast. Thanks for a great recipe!

Max Shapiro

toasted pinoli instead of walnuts.

Lauren

This dish has a lot of potential, but needs some modifications to make it sing. I'm not quite sure why you cook the cabbage with the lid on -- the water just collects and you need to cook it for at least twice as long to get anywhere near caramelized. Next time I think I'll also use Parm for a nuttier taste than the Pecorino offers.

Paul Klein

My mother used to make this. It was very simple: shredded cabbage with walnuts and mixed with bowtie pasta. The cabbage was cooked in butter without all the other spices and special seasonings. It was delicious.

Sharon Simmons

I simmered the veg much longer...almost an hour in the dutch oven until they truly caramelized, which also made the texture more compatible with the pasta. Also, added roasted fennel seeds with the cumin seeds, substituted pecans (because that's what I had), added julienned sugar snap peas, tons of fresh cilantro & parsley and zest & juice of a whole lemon. Served to guests who were actually swooning. A new favorite!!

keirao

Walnuts were fine, but I wasn’t a fan of the long pasta. This needed something shorter, like fusilli or even rigatoni, to grab onto the cabbage and nuts effectively. I’d make it again with that change and maybe add guanciale or pancetta, reducing the salt accordingly.

AJRMF

I'd use any vegan cheese that is marketed as parm, mozz, or white cheddar. Nutritional yeast is always something I add when cooking vegan.

Lyndee

It's Cacio e Pepe with cabbage. It was surprisingly good with the cabbage sliced very thin on a mandoline.

CL

Nice change of pace. Welcome winter weeknight meal.Replaced walnuts with chopped, roasted hulled sunflower seeds (nut allergy).Might try toasted pine nuts next time or even pepitas.

Ken Packman

Bryant Terry has a great tip for removing bitterness from walnuts. After roasting, letting cool, rub them inside a fine sieve. Removes skins and bitterness.

William Wroblicka

Good recipe, but I think the walnuts are miscast in this role.

Mono B

Really loved this recipe! I’m usually game to try any dish that combines cabbage and noodles, and the addition of walnuts also intrigued me. I made this recipe with vegan cheese and it worked out. The sauce is rich and silky, lighter than a white sauce. I might just add something besides pasta water, like stock, to give the dish a richer umami flavour, to balance out the lemon juice.

Becky S

Definitely needs way more time to caramelize the cabbage, as others noted

laurie

I made it just as is and we all loved it.

Mary R

Liked it very much. Used at least 3lbs cabbage and next time would cook cabbage on high caramelizing heat from the start. Egg noodles were nice match. Needs some color so do use chives or something else for green.

David Weintraub

Made nearly as written, with fettuccine. As recommended, caramelized the cabbage deeply. I had fresh dill, so used that. This is a keeper.

me

Yum, needs longer to caramelise and less salt. Added lemon zest as well as juice. Otherwise super easy. Wondering if just as good with onion rather than leek?

meredith

Excellent as written - we added red pepper flakes at the end and it was delicious. If you wanted added protein, sardines would be complimentary.

Jason H.

It's all right. My family is readily eating it, which is good, but I don't think I'll add it to my repertoire as a go-to dish. That said it was pretty cheap to make.

Kevin

the store was out of leeks so I used fennel and some shallots, and it was great.

Shannon

Made exactly as specified - very unique. Husband said, "That was restaurant quality!"

NYC_ARCHITECT_UES

Second time around and still really like this- cabbage is becoming a fave! Unsure why some of the comments, but the cabbage caramelized nicely in the time allotted, but then i am a fan of high-heat cooking. Finished the pasta in the sauce to ensure melding of flavor. Didn’t have walnuts so subbed toasted hazelnuts for a good result as well. Playing with recipes is always an adventure- make this one yours!

Jess in LA

This was absolutely fantastic. My cabbage was a bit light and I will definitely use more next time. When we heated the leftovers we went heavier on the chopped walnuts and garnished with chopped parsley. Used caraway seeds rather than cumin seeds out of necessity and it was amazing. Bulked up with extra cabbage and walnuts this will be in regular rotation. So cheap, hearty, and full of good stuff.

Avi

The cabbage doesn't really get carmelized, just soft. Soft is ok, next to the crunchy walnuts. I think if I make it again, I will put in more cheese.

Pam from NJ

Made as directed but with bow ties. I didn’t care for the cumin taste in the pasta; next time will try with fennel seed.

cabbage and spaghetti

2/1/24Half recipe for two. Use onion and omit walnuts. Mild but satisfying.

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Caramelized Cabbage and Walnut Pasta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect pasta? ›

Once boiling, add plenty of salt: about 7 grams per liter of water; this doesn't just flavour the pasta, but also shortens its cooking time. Stir the pasta regularly to prevent it sticking together.

How to make your pasta taste better? ›

The water you cook pasta in should be as salty as the Mediterranean sea – add about 2 teaspoons of fine grain sea salt per litre (33 ounces) of water. That way your pasta has some flavour before you add the sauce – so you need to work less hard to make everything taste amazing.

What are three key things to remember when cooking pasta? ›

Avoid a pasta mishap by following these helpful cooking tips, then try some of our favorite easy recipes.
  • Use a big enough pot. ...
  • Use plenty of water. ...
  • Season the pasta water — ...
  • Let the water come to a boil first. ...
  • Stir right away — and every couple minutes. ...
  • Don't rely solely on the cooking time on your pasta's package.

What is the golden rule for pasta? ›

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

What not to do when making pasta? ›

8 Pasta Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Meal
  1. Using a pot that's too small.
  2. Not salting the cooking water properly.
  3. Adding oil to the cooking water.
  4. Breaking the noodles.
  5. Not checking the pasta often enough.
  6. Not saving any pasta water.
  7. Rinsing the pasta.
  8. Not considering the combination of pasta shape and sauce.
Jan 26, 2023

What gives pasta more flavor? ›

Lemons are a flavor enhancer just like salt but without all the sodium. A fresh squeeze brings out the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the flavor of the noodles, making the entire dish more savory.

What is the one ingredient that makes spaghetti sauce so much better? ›

Nutmeg. Nutmeg is the key to boosting earthiness and adding a touch of nuttiness to your spaghetti sauce. Nutmeg also has a slightly sweet flavor, which we know goes great with acidic canned tomatoes. Overall, it accentuates the other ingredients in the sauce and adds complexity.

What gives pasta more Flavour? ›

Here are some other ingredients that can help to add more flavor to pasta:
  • Garlic: Garlic is a versatile ingredient that can be added to any type of pasta sauce. ...
  • Herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme can add a lot of flavor to pasta dishes.
Oct 23, 2023

Do you cover pasta when cooking? ›

Should you cover the pasta when cooking it? It's okay to put a lid on the pot while you are waiting for the water to boil. However, after it starts to boil and you add the pasta to the water, you should remove the lid to prevent the water from bubbling over.

How to make sauce stick to pasta? ›

Once the pasta is in the sauce, add pasta water. This is the most vital step in the process. Starchy pasta water doesn't just help thin the sauce to the right consistency; it also helps it cling to the pasta better and emulsify with the fat and cheese you're going to be adding.

How to cook pasta like a pro? ›

How to boil pasta: Fill a large pot with 4-5 quarts water and bring to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt per quart of water and the pasta. Stir frequently, and taste the pasta at intervals. Different pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times — it's not one size fits all.

How many minutes to cook pasta? ›

Most dried ribbons of pasta such as linguine, spaghetti and tagliatelle take between 8-10 mins. Shorter, thicker pasta shapes like bows or penne take 10-12mins and fresh pasta such as ravioli and tortellini will be done between 3-5mins.

What is the number one rule when cooking? ›

1. Read the recipe. Of all the important advice out there about cooking, this by far has to be the number 1 rule of cooking: read your recipe completely before getting started. This may seem like a mundane task (especially when you're excited dive in!), but you'll be so thankful you took the time to do it!

How do you cook pasta perfectly everytime? ›

How To Cook Pasta: 10 Tips And Tricks
  1. DON'T put oil in your water or on your pasta. ...
  2. Fill your pot properly. ...
  3. Salt your water like the sea. ...
  4. Bring water to a rapid boil before adding the pasta. ...
  5. Drop and stir. ...
  6. Check the package for timing. ...
  7. Always save some cooking water. ...
  8. Drain don't dry.
Oct 20, 2023

What is the pasta water trick? ›

If your dish seems a bit dry or the sauce isn't coating the noodles as much as you like, add a splash of hot pasta water — about a quarter cup per pound of pasta. Toss until the cooking water is completely incorporated.

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