Cabbage (Winter) recipes

A robust, properly textured slaw that earns its place at the table in its own right rather than propping up a burger. Winter cabbage is dense and sweet enough to hold up to a good punchy dressing, and combined with crisp apple, toasted walnuts and a mustardy crème fraîche vinaigrette it becomes something you genuinely look forward to eating. It actually improves after sitting for 20 minutes, which makes it ideal to prepare ahead.

A deeply savoury braise that transforms winter cabbage into something truly special. The cabbage collapses slowly in stock and white wine, drinking up all the smoky, aromatic flavour from the bacon and caraway. This is proper cold-weather cooking — the kind of side dish that upstages the main.

A hearty, warming dal where winter cabbage is cooked down into the spiced lentil base until it becomes almost silky, absorbing all the cumin, turmeric and ginger. The chickpeas add protein and body, making this a completely satisfying one-pot supper. Serve with warm flatbreads or rice and a dollop of yoghurt.

A thick, honest soup built around winter cabbage — not the kind where the cabbage is an afterthought, but where it brings real character and sweetness to every bowlful. Floury potatoes dissolve into the broth to give body, and a generous amount of mature Cheddar is stirred in at the end to make it properly rich. This is the soup you want on a January evening.