Savoy cabbage Grown by Cathy and Gordon Case at Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

£2.45 / x1

About

Never mind the latest superfood; we believe in the redemptive power of the cabbage. Savoy is one of our favourites – the slowest growing variety, but well worth it, with deep-green, crinkly, loosely furled leaves. It has a robust texture and flavour, and is good in slow-cooked soups and stews, stuffed, roasted in wedges, or simply boiled and buttered.

SEASONAL STAR

Country of origin

Produced in

The UK

UK Seasonality

In season from July to March. At its very best between October and February.

Bubble and squeak must be one of the best uses for leftover cabbage. Eat with eggs or bacon

- Riverford cooks

How to prepare

Discard any damaged outer leaves and the central core. To make the prep easier, roll up two or three outer leaves into a sausage shape and slice them together. Finely shred the cabbage, and fry with a little butter and whole caraway seeds until it starts to wilt. Dress with a light splash of cider vinegar just before serving. Or try adding shredded leaves to a stir-fry; they’ll only take a few minutes, and are best slightly underdone.

People rarely think to roast cabbage, but it works wonders. Savoy is a good candidate; the edges should be lightly crisp and burnt, but the middle soft and tender. Remove any large, loose outer leaves, and cut the cabbage into 8 equal wedges. Brush with oil, season well, and roast in a medium oven for 15 mins, turning once to colour evenly. Add some white wine or cider and bake for another 10-15 mins, turning once, until tender. Some crispy bacon, and a swirl of mustard, cream and parsley would make this truly indulgent.

Storage

Keep in the fridge or a cool veg rack. It will last up to a fortnight.

Grown by Cathy and Gordon Case, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Cathy and her husband Gordon are members of our local co-operative, the South Devon Organic Producers. Their mild coastal farm, Lower Willings Farm, is settled over the peaks above the village of Bigbury-on-Sea; the veg enjoys a beautiful view of the water. Cathy and Gordon grow kohlrabi, cabbages, purple sprouting broccoli and more for our veg boxes – but most of all, we rely on their firm, nutty cauliflowers.