Cabbages

Cabbages are any of the various cultivated varieties of Brassica oleracea. They typically have a thick stalk with a large, compact head formed from green or reddish-purple edible leaves, as in savoy cabbages and white cabbages. Cabbages that do not form a head are known as kale, winter greens or collards. They are nutritious, inexpensive vegetables supplying vitamin C, dietary fibre, potassium and glucosinolates, and they are eaten fresh in salads, fermented as sauerkraut and kimchi, or cooked in countless dishes. Firm, heavy heads with crisp leaves indicate freshness.