Vegan Cabbage and Mushroom Risotto: Try This and You’ll Never Scorn Cabbage Again!

As I write this, there is a small-ish black lab with a tennis ball obsession placing said object in my lap over and over and over again. No matter how far away I throw the thing, I’ll inevitably feel the slobbery weight of it in my lap not much later. Try 5 seconds. #lifeofadogowner

Top down view of a Cabbage Mushroom Risotto dish in a large serving bowl on a rustic wooden table.

Not much can truly distract Dedas from her fuzzy green love, but for some reason she has a strong affinity for most all vegetables, particularly crunchy ones. When she hears the sound of a knife slapping the cutting board, she drops the ball, runs over and looks up at me with those big brown eyes, and silently begs for a bite. I never, ever indulge her.

Close up view a cabbage mushroom risotto dish in a white, ceramic bowl.

Except that’s a total, complete, 100% lie. How do you think she learned to recognize the sound of a knife on a cutting board?

Oblique photo of two bowls of cabbage mushroom risotto on a rustic, wooden table top.

Like Dedas, I’ve recently found that cabbage is really an amazing vegetable. Growing up, the only way I ever experienced it was sliced raw as part of a salad. Not that it’s not good that way, I just don’t think this method of serving quite does it justice.

Recently, we’ve grilled it, turned it into slaw, sauteed it (trying a recipe from Super Natural Every Day – ahhhmazing), added it in stir fry, and turned it into risotto, which might just be my favorite.

Side profile view of a white ceramic serving bowl with cabbage and mushroom risotto. A serving spoon sits to the left of the bowl.

These pictures may not do it justice, but I can’t tell you how good this stuff is. I bet it’s even more amazing with the optional parmesan, although I decided to forego the cheese.

I’ve been on a cheese binge for far too many months, so it’s off the menu for now. But please, someone add the cheese and tell me how incredible it is.

A measuring cup full of uncooked rice is in the foreground and two bowls of cabbage mushroom risotto is in the background. Everything is sitting on a unfinished wooden plank surface.

Be sure to use arborio rice for this, as the extra starchiness makes it super creamy. Regular white rice will work as well, but won’t yield quite the same result. And the mushrooms add just the right amount of umami flavor. I can’t get enough of this stuff.

Two bowls of cabbage mushroom risotto captured at an oblique angle on a rustic wooden planked deck.

Alright, let’s go. Are you ready to love cabbage in a whole new way? We definitely are! Make the recipe now.

And for more creamy and hearty risotto recipes try these:

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Two bowls of cabbage mushroom risotto captured at an oblique angle on a rustic wooden planked deck.

Cabbage and Mushroom Risotto


  • Author: Raquel Smith
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 2 as a meal, 4 as part of a meal 1x

Description

A simple recipe for a creamy new way to enjoy your cabbage. You’ve never loved cabbage so much!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon good quality olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 head cabbage
  • 1/3 cup cooking sherry
  • 3 cups water
  • 2/3 cup arborio rice
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 12 tablespoons butter (can substitute vegan margarine)
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed stockpot. Add the onion and cook over medium-high heat until golden. While the onions cook, slice the cabbage into fine strips.
  2. When the onions are just about done, add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the salt and pepper, and mix well.
  3. Add the cabbage, pour the sherry on top, and toss. Cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the lid and let cook, stirring often, for another 10 minutes or so, until the cabbage starts to brown just a bit. It shouldn’t be sticking to the bottom at all during this time; if it does, lower the heat and add a bit more olive oil or sherry.
  5. When the cabbage is ready, it should be rather tender but have the tiniest bit of crunch, with a slight caramel flavor. Add the water, rice, and mushrooms. Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring often, for 20 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. As the rice cooks, it may stick to the bottom a bit; just scrape it off and stir more often.
  6. When the rice is done, stir in the coriander and butter. Add the parmesan if desired. Eat!
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 50 mins

Don’t forget to Pin It!

A collage of photos showing different views of cabbage and mushroom risotto recipe.

Photos by Raquel Smith, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on April 9th, 2014. Last updated: June 7, 2022 at 12:46 pm.

*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

About Raquel Smith

Raquel is a whole foods enthusiast, an avid mountain biker, and a dog lover. She works by day at Food Blogger Pro and formerly maintained her food blog "My California Roots" (now merged into Foodal).

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