Kobichi Vadi | Steamed Cabbage Cakes

Kobichi Vadi or Steamed Cabbage Cakes is a traditional Maharashtrian recipe. Similar to Kothimbir vadi, these cakes are made of chickpea flour, spices & then steamed. A great nutritious way to consume cabbage & stay healthy. You can serve them as snacks with some chutney or ketchup.

I am totally hooked onto all the travel-food related shows on Netflix currently. Ainsley eats the streets, Somebody feed Phil, A cook abroad, I’ll have what Phil is having, The mind of a chef, etc. It has reached a point that I am obsessing over it and even got KR on-board. I envy those hosts who get to travel all over the world and try out different food and that too for a living! I sometimes wish I could just take off on a similar journey. It’s not that we don’t travel, there is just no show featuring it (as of now)! What I love most about these shows is that the hosts really explore the local food, go to extreme places to try them out and give an honest review. It’s nice to see their kitchens, how they cook, what spices they use and you also get to know about some amazing ingredients. Whenever I see something I like, I make a note a note of the recipe name to try it for later. I have a long list already! Hopefully you will see them here soon. 

Its one thing about world cuisine, but Indian cuisine is like a world in itself. Its vast, given the range of diversity in soil type, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, our cuisines internally vary substantially from each other Every cuisine uses locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits and that is what makes it unique. Despite me being an Indian, I am still discovering the various aspects of this cuisine and that keeps me going in full vigor. Just recently I discovered this recipe called Kobichi Vadi. It literally means Cabbage Cakes. This dish is very similar to Kothimbir vadi which is nothing but Cilantro cakes. The interesting thing about this recipe is that, the batter is first steamed. It can be eaten as is after that or you can perform an additional step of frying/shallow frying them and then serve it. 

The recipe is super easy to make. In a bowl, add shredded cabbage, chickpea flour, rice flour, sesame seeds, cumin seeds, garam masala, turmeric powder, chilly powder, minced ginger garlic, asafoetida and salt. Make a thick batter by adding enough water. Pour it in a greased steaming dish and steam it for 10-15 minutes. Once its cooled down a bit, cut them in squares and serve them warm with some chutney/ketchup. This snack is a great way to consume cabbage especially if you are not a cabbage lover. I know there are many of us out there who are not that great a fan of cabbage and that is why I loved this dish!

I cannot see it and it tastes great. This recipe is also a great way to feed those veggies to your children that they hate. Since this is made with chickpea flour (prime ingredient for vegetarians and vegans) mainly, its rich in protein and carbs. The spices added give it more flavor and cabbage is an excellent source of vitamins and dietary fiber. There is a nice balance to the dish, making this vegan snack appetizing. If you do try this recipe, please do share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. This will keep me motivated to develop more interesting recipes. Click a pic and post it with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg . I would love to see your pictures on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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According to me, Steaming cooks and seals in flavor, eliminating the need for adding additional fats during preparation. It also preserves nutrients better than any other cooking method. I own an Idli cooker which has a steaming plate which makes it easy for me. Some steamed recipes that you too can enjoy are Steamed Quinoa Chana Dal Idli, Healthy Steamed Falafel Naan Pizza, Oil Free Bulgur Wheat Spinach Idli, Mini Masala Idli, Vermicelli Oats Idli, Oats and Flax Seed Idli and Healthy Vegetable Idlis in Pink!