Charred cabbage with peanut sauce

Cabbage and peanut sauce are a duo that’s just meant to be!! I first made this at an Airbnb a few months ago because these were the ingredients I could conjure up together from the pantry, and I loved it! You can either pan sear to char or alternatively roast in the oven. You can either pan-sear to char or alternatively roast in the oven if you prefer a bit more of ~set and forget vibes~. I personally prefer the pan-sear for its flavor and textures. This can be served warm or at room temp which makes it a good one to make ahead for parties! Prep the cabbage in advance and drizzle on the peanut sauce and garnishes when you’re closer to dinner time.

I used:

• 1 medium head of green cabbage, cut into 6-8 wedges
• 2 tbsp peanut butter, I used SKIPPY® all natural smooth but also love using crunchy for extra texture!
• 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp honey
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• optional: chili flakes, cilantro, scallion, crushed peanuts

To make:

• Heat up neutral oil on a pan over medium-heat and sear all sides of the cabbage until slightly charred and cabbage is fully softened, ~5 minutes per side, seasoning with salt and pepper
• If your pieces are a bit chunky and taking longer, I like to hit it with a splash of water and then cover and let them steam cook a little to ensure the insides are softened (but that’s just me because I like it when the leaves are tender)
• While cabbage is searing, mix together your sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, lemon, and optionally, chili flakes. Mix in a splash of room temp water to thin and emulsify