Gujarati Cabbage

In 2006, i spent a stretching long 3 months in Bangladesh, my country of origins. i loved every minute of my time there. i was the tender age of 20 something, i had taken a semester off from college, and made the trek to Dhaka, Bangladesh. it was my second time traveling there, and i was excited to explore, learn, serve, and grow in my season once again. 

i spent a lot of time with the children at HELP Bangladesh, a school/year round living facility for Bengali school age children ranging from ages 4 to about 16. i went there to teach english, to put on church assemblies assisting with worship leading, and just serving really with where ever and how ever help was needed.

Our living quarters were a modest concrete 4 wall building up on the 6th floor [lots and lots of stairs], complete with a dribbling shower and a small refrigerator that worked part of the time. we [meaning just me and 3 other girls around my age] slept in iron bunk beds with thin mats that lit up with dust particles every time you bumped them. i was sick a lot, but i didn't care. i blossomed and bloomed while i was there.

i truly thrived in the simplistic, humble way of living. my days were very routine, but it felt far from it. everything was new and inviting to me. 

haha, i didn't mean to take a detour down memory lane, but the whole reason for this recipe that i am sharing with you, does just that for me, one bite brings me straight back to the hot humid plush country of Bangaldesh,  my legs folded beneath me on the concrete floor, eating with my hands, this humble dish-we must have eaten it practically every single day, for at least one of the daily meals. the children ate right along side us. i count that season one of my richest, even amongst the most simple and minimal way of living. i was stripped of a lot of comforts for those three months, but the delicious homemade bengali food made with love always brought me comfort. 

Gujarati cabbage is just that. a comfortable, warm, cozy dish, to be enjoyed at any time, it is light, bright with warm fragrant flavors, and ladled with cilantro and lime wakes up the 'buds and never leaves you feeling heavy or lethargic. 


cabbage actually has many health benefits, heavy in good nutrients, contains antioxidants that help lower inflammation, it is packed with vitamin c, as well as improves digestion. the list goes on. 

instead of continuing on that list, why don't i just share the recipe with you. thanks for letting me share a little bit of memories along with this recipe. maybe Bangladesh needs its own post someday, but for now i will give you this little recipe, and you can be whisked away to the smells and comfort of Bangladesh. this is the way i remember it..

you'll need:
1 half head of green cabbage, shredded or finely chopped
a drizzle of ghee or oil
1 tsp mustard powder or brown mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp asafetida
1 tsp garam masala 
1 1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper  
1 tsp chili powder 
a generous amount of chopped cilantro 
a fresh squeeze of lime  

heat oil up in a large pan. add spices and toast and open them up, taking care not to burn. add shredded cabbage and stir, coating it in the masala. you want it to be crisp, but tender..taste and test. add any extra salt or spice you want more of. i ended up wanting mine a little more spicy, so i added a little extra chili and crushed red pepper. r

remove from heat. pour contents in bowl, add chopped cilantro and lime juice. toss. 
eat with flaky paratha or just as it is. if you want to get really bengali, eat it with your hands, on a hard floor. ;) 

enjoy.