Cabbage is like the grandfather of vegetables. It is one of the oldest vegetables in existence at over 1,000 years old. Bacon and Cabbage has to be the most quintessential of Irish dishes and yet, cabbage has worldwide appeal, and is enjoyed in Germany served as Saurkraut, as well as a staple in China and Russia.
Each month Mash Direct is showcasing an ‘In Season, In Ireland’ vegetable and this month the spotlight is on cabbage. Did you know that Cabbage is part of the cruciferous vegetable family and that Russia has the highest annual per capita consumption? This delicious smooth leafed and firm headed vegetable has been a friend of the award-winning Mash Direct brand since June 2006 when it was introduced to their fresh vegetable accompaniments range.
Cabbage is full of goodness and can be incorporated into your daily diet as one of your five-a-day. Packed with Vitamin C and powerful antioxidants, whilst also being full of fibre, this leafy vegetable is one to admire and the greener the better!
Another impressive benefit of Cabbage is the versatility of how it can be consumed. It can be enjoyed raw, steamed, boiled, roasted, sautéed or stuffed. So whether it’s an ingredient of colcannon, the ultimate comfort dish of mash potato cabbage and butter, or a key ingredient of coleslaw, a delicious side salad with BBQ meats in the summertime, it is a welcome addition to the dinner table no matter what the weather!
As we slowly move out of lockdown and begin to feel our way back into society, people are more conscious than ever about their own health and are looking for nutritional food that helps boost their immunity. With Mash Direct gently steam cooking their vegetables immediately after harvesting, it guarantees an unrivalled freshness of flavour with no compromise on either the nutritional benefits or natural texture of the vegetable.
As well as that, enjoying in-season and locally grown vegetables has many benefits. Not only are home-grown vegetables full of flavour but they are also picked at their peak of ripeness ensuring its freshness is kept intact.
Sustainability is at the forefront of the Mash Direct brand, there is no beauty parade requiring conformity to strict size and shape guidelines demanded by supermarkets. Mash Direct products are all prepared on site meaning even the “ugly” ones make it to the shelf, so no vegetable is wasted.
Utilising six generations of the Hamilton family’s farming expertise, Mash Direct vegetables are gently steam cooked immediately after harvesting, guaranteeing an unrivalled freshness of flavour with no compromise on either the nutritional benefits or natural texture of the vegetable. The tasty and nutritious products cook in minutes and are suitable for home freezing.
Simple yet wholesome to make, these cabbage-based Mash Direct recipes are perfect for a delicious family meal or side dish!
- Bangers & Mash Bowl
- Cabbage & Chorizo Stew
- Buffalo Chicken Wings Platter
- Mash Direct ‘Nandos Style’ Chicken Burger
To discover the world of Mash Direct and their delicious recipes check out their website here: www.mashdirect.com
Bangers & Mash Bowl (Serves 4)
Cook time: 35-40mins
Ingredients:
- 2 packs of Mash Direct Champ
- 1 pack of Mash Direct Green Cabbage
- 1 pack of Mallon’s Low Fat Pork Sausages – we used Leek & Pepper
- Frozen peas
- Giant Yorkshire Puddings (Can make Gluten Free)
For the gravy:
- 1 large onion – finely chopped
- 200g white button mushrooms – sliced
- 60g plain flour
- 50g butter
- 500ml beef stock
- ¼ tsp sage
- Salt & pepper to season
Method:
- Preheat a grill to a medium heat. Place the sausages onto a grill pan and cook for 15 minutes, turning occasionally until cooked through.
- In a saucepan, melt ½ the butter. Add the onions and cook on low for 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook for a further 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Remove the onion and mushrooms from the saucepan and set aside. Add the remaining butter to the saucepan and allow to melt. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute (this will create a thick paste). Slowly whisk in the beef stock, adding a little at a time until the mixture is smooth. Add the onions and mushrooms and simmer until thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook the peas.
- Heat the Champ and Green Cabbage according to packet instructions and cook the Yorkshire pudding.
- Arrange the Champ, Green Cabbage, Sausages and Peas in the Yorkshire puddings. Top with gravy and serve immediately.
Buffalo Chicken Wings Platter (Serves 4-6 people)
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of Mash Direct Chilli Baby Bakes
- 1 pack of Mash Direct Cauliflower Bites
- 1 tub of Mash Direct Home Style Coleslaw
- 1 tub of Mash Direct Home Style Potato Salad
Sauce for buffalo wings –
- 4 tablespoons oil (nut / rapeseed oil)
- 4 tablespoons hot sauce of choice
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Sour cream dip –
- 4oz blue cheese
- 125ml sour cream
- 4 tablespoon mayo
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Splash of hot sauce
Method:
- Combine sauce ingredients into a small saucepan and warm gently for 5mins stirring occasionally.
- Leave 5-6 tablespoons of the sauce to one side then coat the wings in the sauce in a large bowl. Discard residual sauce. Set up the BBQ for 2 zone cooking with a direct and indirect zone. Grill the wings direct turning occasionally. Until the skin crisps up and the internal temp of the wings hits at least 75ºc
- Cook the Mash Direct products as directed on pack. You can also cook these on the BBQ with an indirect heat, until done.
- Remove from the grill and toss the wings in the sauce you had set aside at the start.
- Serve on a platter with a selection of crudités.
Mash Direct ‘Nandos Style’ Chicken Burger
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Marinating time: 30 minutes. Cooking time: 25 minutes
Oven temperature 200oC (Fan 180oC) Gas mark 6
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 packet Mash Direct Beer Battered onion rings
For the chicken burgers
2 chicken breast fillets, trimmed and cut in half horizontally
2 tablespoons Nando’s Hot peri peri marinade
To serve
2 brioche burger rolls, cut in half and lightly toasted
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
A large handful of salad leaves
1 large tomato, cut into 6 slices
2 tablespoons Mash Direct Homestyle Coleslaw
Method
1. Place the chicken into a shallow dish, brush with marinade, cover with clingfilm, refrigerate and marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven and cook the onion rings as per packet instructions.
3. Place the chicken into a hot oven and cook for 15 minutes.
To serve
Arrange toasted brioche buns onto warm plates, top with mayo, salad leaves, tomato slices, chicken and coleslaw. Serve with onion rings.
Cabbage & Chorizo Stew
Cooking time: 30 mins
Easy
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
– 1 pack Mash Direct Green Cabbage
– 200g Spicy Chorizo Sausage
– 1 onion
– 150g baby potatoes
– 400g can chopped tomatoes
– 1 chicken stock cube
– 5 baby plum tomatoes
Method:
1. Half the chorizo lengthways and chop into small pieces. Thinly slice the baby potatoes, onion and baby tomatoes.
2. Put the chorizo, onion and baby potatoes in a large, non-stick pan. Leave to fry in the oil from the chorizo, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.
3. Tip in the tin chopped tomatoes and 2 tins of water, add the stock cube and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add the cabbage and cook for 3 – 5 minutes until tender.
5. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Website: www.mashdirect.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MashDirect
Instagram: @mashdirect
Mash Direct is an independent company started by Martin and Tracy Hamilton at their family-run farm in Comber, in 2004. The Hamilton’s began farming the fields around Strangford Lough back in the 1800s and the land has been passed down through six generations, bringing with it a wealth of understanding and knowledge of the area and growing conditions. From the initial dream of making traditional ‘Ulster’ Champ for convenience in 2004, the Hamilton family has grown Mash Direct into a National household brand, employing 217 people.
Multi award-winning Mash Direct has a range of over 50 farm fresh products, 22 of which have won Great Taste Awards. In 2018, Mash Direct was voted the UK’s number one branded supplier in fruit, vegetables and prepared salads by The Grocer Magazine.
Mash Direct’s range of Mashed Potato, Mashed Carrot & Parsnip, Mashed Carrot, Parsnip & Turnip, Mashed Turnip, Mashed Swede, Champ, Cheesy Mash, Colcannon/ Bubble & Squeak, Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Potato Croquettes.