Looking for a show-stopping vegetable side dish that’s actually hearty enough to be a meal? These Italian roast cabbage wedges with tomato lentils are it. Tender, caramelized cabbage paired with a savory lentil and tomato sauce creates a plant-based dinner that’s satisfying, nutritious, and bursting with flavor. It’s the kind of recipe that surprises everyone — even the meat-eaters at your table will be asking for seconds. Ready in about 45 minutes and packed with fiber and protein, this is comfort food that actually makes you feel good.
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Ingredients
For the roasted cabbage:
- 100ml extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 small winter green cabbages, outer leaves removed, each cut into 6 wedges
For the New Potatoes:
- 750g baby new potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Zest of 2 lemons
For the lentils:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 250g red lentils
- 1 (400g) can chopped tomatoes
- 2 vegetable stock cubes
- 3 tbsp sundried tomato purée
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Small bunch of fresh basil, finely chopped (save some leaves for garnish)
For the black olive pangrattato:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- ½ – 1 tsp chili flakes (optional, adjust to your heat preference)
- 3 thick slices of stale crusty bread or sourdough, crusts removed, blitzed into breadcrumbs (about 120g)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 100g Kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the New Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/Gas Mark 6.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then blanch the baby new potatoes for 10-12 minutes until just tender.
- Drain them and set aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Roast the Cabbage
- Mix together the olive oil and crushed garlic in a bowl.
- Rub the mixture all over the cabbage wedges, season with salt and pepper, and spread them on a large baking tray.
- Roast on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes
Step 3: Prepare the Potatoes for Roasting
- Place the blanched potatoes on a separate baking tray and gently crush each one with the back of a spoon or a masher, just until they split open.
- Drizzle with olive oil, season, and sprinkle with lemon zest.
- After the cabbage has roasted for 15 minutes, place the tray of potatoes on the top shelf and move the cabbage to the bottom shelf.
- Roast both for an additional 45 minutes, turning halfway through.
Step 4: Cook the Lentils
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions and celery over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the red lentils, canned tomatoes, 450ml of water, stock cubes, tomato purée, and red wine vinegar.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally until the lentils are cooked through.
- If the lentil mixture becomes too dry, add a splash of water.
- Stir in the chopped basil and an extra 50ml of hot water to loosen the mix, and season to taste.
Step 5: Make the Black Olive Pangrattato
- While the lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan.
- Add the garlic and chilli flakes, frying for about 30 seconds.
- Add the breadcrumbs and toast until golden and crunchy, then stir in the lemon zest and chopped olives.
- Continue frying for an additional 3 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Step 6: Serve
- To plate, spoon a generous amount of lentils onto each plate, top with a roasted cabbage wedge, and sprinkle over the black olive pangrattato.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with crispy potatoes on the side.
- Enjoy your wholesome and flavorful meal!
FAQs
Can I use a different type of cabbage?
Yes, you can use other types of cabbage like Savoy or Napa, but cooking times may vary slightly. Just make sure to adjust as needed.
What if I don’t have baby new potatoes?
You can use regular potatoes. Just cut them into small chunks and adjust the roasting time as needed to ensure they are tender and crispy.
Italian roast cabbage wedges with tomato lentils prove that plant-based meals don’t have to be boring or complicated. This one-pan wonder is proof that vegetables, when roasted with care and paired with the right seasonings, become the star of the show. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just looking to add more plant-based meals to your rotation, this recipe delivers big flavor and serious nutrition. Make it once and it’ll become a regular on your weeknight dinner table.
If you love this dish, you’ll also enjoy our simple vegetable soup — another plant-based Italian classic that’s just as comforting and easy to make.
Easy Italian-style roast cabbage wedges with tomato lentils
This comforting dish combines roasted cabbage, crispy new potatoes, and tender lentils topped with a zesty black olive pangrattato for a hearty, flavorful meal.
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Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Roasted Cabbage:
- 100 ml olive oil extra virgin
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 small winter green cabbages, outer leaves removed, each cut into 6 wedges
For the New Potatoes:
- 750 grams potatoes baby new
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lemons, zested
For the Lentils:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks finely chopped
- 250 grams red lentils
- 400 grams tomatoes can chopped
- 2 vegetable stock cube
- 3 tbsp sundried tomato purée
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Small bunch of basil finely chopped (save a few leaves for garnish)
For the Black Olive Pangrattato:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- ½-1 tsp chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
- 3 thick thick slices stale crusty bread or sourdough crusts removed and blitzed into breadcrumbs (about 120g)
- 1 lemon zested
- 100 grams Kalamata olives pitted and roughly choppe
Instructions
Prepare the New Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/Gas Mark 6. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then blanch the baby new potatoes for 10-12 minutes until just tender. Drain them and set aside to cool slightly.
Roast the Cabbage
- Mix together the olive oil and crushed garlic in a bowl. Rub the mixture all over the cabbage wedges, season with salt and pepper, and spread them on a large baking tray. Roast on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes
Prepare the Potatoes for Roasting
- Place the blanched potatoes on a separate baking tray and gently crush each one with the back of a spoon or a masher, just until they split open. Drizzle with olive oil, season, and sprinkle with lemon zest. After the cabbage has roasted for 15 minutes, place the tray of potatoes on the top shelf and move the cabbage to the bottom shelf. Roast both for an additional 45 minutes, turning halfway through.
Cook the Lentils
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions and celery over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the red lentils, canned tomatoes, 450ml of water, stock cubes, tomato purée, and red wine vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally until the lentils are cooked through. If the lentil mixture becomes too dry, add a splash of water. Stir in the chopped basil and an extra 50ml of hot water to loosen the mix, and season to taste.
Make the Black Olive Pangrattato
- While the lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the garlic and chilli flakes, frying for about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and toast until golden and crunchy, then stir in the lemon zest and chopped olives.Continue frying for an additional 3 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Serve
- To plate, spoon a generous amount of lentils onto each plate, top with a roasted cabbage wedge, and sprinkle over the black olive pangrattato. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with crispy potatoes on the side.Enjoy your wholesome and flavorful meal!
Notes
For perfectly caramelized cabbage, don’t skip brushing the wedges with olive oil and seasoning generously before roasting. The lentil sauce can be made while the cabbage roasts, so everything comes together at the same time. This recipe works beautifully with whatever vegetables are in season — you can add roasted zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers alongside the cabbage for more color and variety. Serve warm or at room temperature — it’s delicious both ways.
Save This Recipe! 💌
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