How to Make Caramelized Shrimp & Cabbage

Cabbage could be one of the most challenging vegetables to convince kids to eat. We always have to find creative ways to make it tasty for them. This quick caramelized shrimp & cabbage fry is one of my kids’ favorites. The key is to avoid overcooking the cabbage since kids usually do not appreciate mushy vegetables.

Introduction to growing cabbage

My recipes are all inspired by what I grow in my garden. Cabbage is one of those plants that take a considerable amount of space. And since my garden is not that huge, I always look for varieties that take little room with a great outcome. After experimenting for a few years, I settled on three cabbage varieties: Sweet Choi, Napa, and Caraflax.

Nutritional value of cabbage

According to Healthline, cabbage is an overlooked vegetable despite being very nutritious. It is low in calories, so you can eat as much as you want of it without it affecting your calorie intake. It is also high in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. If you got digestive problems, cabbage might be the cure for you. Its high content of insoluble fiber heals the gut by feeding friendly bacteria.

What you need for this recipe

This recipe is straightforward and does not require a lot of ingredients.

• Cabbage: you can use any kind of cabbage, but if you like your veggies to have a bite after cooking, regular cabbage would be a better choice.
• Shrimp: we enjoyed this dish with shrimp, but it also comes out great with chicken.
• Cooking oil: this recipe requires quick cooking on high flame, so choose an oil with a low smoke point. My go-to cooking oils for stir-fries are sesame or grapeseed oil.
• Spices: in addition to black pepper and salt, paprika is the dominant spice. It will give a beautiful red color, and if you use smoked paprika, it will add an extra level of flavor.
• Soy sauce: say stir-fry, say soy sauce.
• Honey: this one is optional but helps with the caramelization of the shrimp.
• Garlic: if you don’t like garlic, you may omit it, but it does add a lot of flavor.

How to clean cabbage?

Due to its tightly layered leaves, cabbage may hold dirt and bugs you may not see. The best way to clean it is by chopping it first. Then submerge it in a big bowl of water. Leave it for a few minutes to allow the rubbish to sink to the bottom of the bowl. Next, try scooping the cabbage from the water instead of dumping it in a colander to prevent the sunken dirt from falling back on the cabbage.

Marinate the shrimp

Marinating the shrimp or chicken is an important step. It will absorb a great deal of flavor and enhance its color. Mix the soy sauce, honey, paprika, oil, crushed garlic, and black pepper in a bowl to make the marinade. Then put in the shrimp and allow to marinate for at least one hour.