Roasted Brussel Sprouts & Purple Cabbage with Fig & Olive: A Vegan Harvest Dish
As the leaves turn and the air cools, we’re drawn toward foods that ground and comfort the body. This roasted medley of purple cabbage and Brussels sprouts is a celebration of simplicity, a dish where the sweetness of fig meets the richness of olive oil. Inspired by Prophetic Medicine, it brings warmth to the table and balance to the soul, a reminder that nourishment, when prepared with presence, becomes an act of gratitude.
Serves: 4–6
Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients
• ½ head purple cabbage, cut into thick wedges
• 3 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
• 3 tbsp Butter Olive Oil (or avocado oil if preferred)
• 1 tbsp Mission Fig Balsamic Vinegar
• ½ tsp sea salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp garlic powder or minced garlic (optional)
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast (to replace Parmesan — for a rich, umami flavor)
• Optional garnish: toasted walnuts or pecans, and a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven: 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, toss the cabbage wedges and Brussels sprouts with 3 tbsp Butter Olive Oil, salt, pepper, and garlic (if using).
3. Roast: Spread the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet, placing Brussels sprouts cut-side down. Roast for about 25 minutes.
4. Add the glaze: Remove from the oven, drizzle the Mission Fig Balsamic over everything, and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle nutritional yeast evenly.
5. Finish roasting: Return to the oven for another 8–10 minutes, until the edges are caramelized and golden.
6. Final touch: Drizzle the last tablespoon of Butter Olive Oil before serving. Top with toasted nuts or thyme if desired.
Serving Suggestion
This dish pairs beautifully with saffron basmati rice, tahini-drizzled lentils, or roasted root vegetables. The fig balsamic brings gentle sweetness, while the olive oil gives a buttery richness that warms and soothes, a perfect vegan harvest dish to share around the table.
Prophetic Medicine & Temperament Notes
Rooted in the wisdom of Tibb an-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine), this combination balances warmth and coolness to support harmony in body and spirit.
• Purple Cabbage — cool and dry, known to calm inflammation and purify the liver.
• Brussels Sprouts — cool and moist, nourishing and grounding after warming meals.
• Olive Oil — praised in the Qur’an as a blessed oil, warm and moist, balancing and heart-strengthening.
• Figs — warm and moist, uplifting digestion and symbolizing divine nourishment.
Together, these ingredients embody balance, ideal for choleric (hot/dry) or sanguine (hot/moist) temperaments, especially in the cooler months when the body seeks warmth and moisture.
💫 Healing Intention
“Eat of the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah 2:172
In every layer of this dish lies a quiet remembrance, the sweetness of the fig, the richness of the olive, the stillness of the earth that nurtures them both.
Cook slowly. Serve with love. And let each bite be a whisper of gratitude.
