Revision 3

Overview

Sweet and Sour Cabbage is a cooking recipe in Starsand Island. It is classified as a Rarity II dish at Item Level 3, making it an accessible mid-tier recipe that players can prepare relatively early in their cooking journey. The dish uses a simple two-ingredient combination of Cabbage and Vinegar, fried at a Gas Stove or Campfire.

This dish restores 74 stamina when eaten and sells for 126 coins, providing a decent option for both stamina recovery during exploration and supplemental income. The recipe is purchased from the Auraleaf Kitchen in Starsand Town for 150 gold, making it one of the more affordable recipes available at that shop.

Sweet and Sour Cabbage is notable for requiring only two ingredients. Cabbage is a farm crop that grows during Summer and Autumn, while Vinegar is produced at the Brewing Barrel. The low ingredient count and short cooking time of just 59 seconds make this one of the fastest and simplest dishes to prepare in bulk.

Recipe Details

Ingredients

Where to Get the Recipe

The Sweet and Sour Cabbage recipe is purchased from the Auraleaf Kitchen in central Starsand Town for 150 gold. The Auraleaf Kitchen is operated by Aurelis and is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00. Walk inside and interact with the shop counter to browse available recipes.

Once purchased, the recipe appears permanently in your cooking menu at any compatible station (Gas Stove or Campfire). You do not need to carry a recipe item or repurchase it. At 150 gold, this is one of the cheaper recipes sold at the Auraleaf Kitchen, making it a good early pickup when you first start building out your recipe collection.

Ingredient Sourcing

Sweet and Sour Cabbage requires just two ingredients, both of which can be produced entirely on your farm. No purchased ingredients from the General Store are needed, which keeps production costs low.

Cabbage

Cabbage is a vegetable crop grown on standard farmland during Summer and Autumn. Cabbage seeds cost 30 gold each and are available at the Happiness Seed Shop run by Graminova. Each seed takes 1.8 days to grow and yields 4 Cabbage per harvest. Since each batch of Sweet and Sour Cabbage needs only 2 Cabbage, a single harvest gives you enough for two cooking batches.

Cabbage cannot be grown during Spring or Winter. If you want to cook Sweet and Sour Cabbage year-round, stockpile Cabbage in your storage chest during the growing seasons. Alternatively, check whether any vendors sell Cabbage directly as a backup supply.

Vinegar

Vinegar is produced at the Brewing Barrel. The Brewing Barrel ferments certain crops into liquid condiments used in cooking. Unlike instant-processing stations, the Brewing Barrel takes time to finish each batch (typically 2 to 4 in-game hours). You need 2 Vinegar per cook, so keeping your Brewing Barrel running consistently is important if you plan to prepare this dish regularly.

Building multiple Brewing Barrels is recommended if you cook Vinegar-heavy recipes frequently. Sweet and Sour Cabbage uses less Vinegar than many other recipes (only 2 compared to 4 for Sweet and Sour Pork), so the demand on your barrels is relatively light for this dish alone.

Profitability

At a sell price of 126 coins, Sweet and Sour Cabbage is not the highest-value dish, but it has a strong profit margin because both ingredients are farm-produced. Raw Cabbage sells for just 22 coins each (44 coins for the 2 needed), and Vinegar is made from crops you grow yourself. Cooking the dish converts 44 coins worth of raw Cabbage into 126 coins, nearly tripling the value.

The 59-second cooking time is one of the shortest in the game, meaning you can produce many dishes per in-game day. For comparison, here is how Sweet and Sour Cabbage stacks up against other cabbage-based and similar-tier dishes:

While Sweet and Sour Pork generates significantly more revenue per cook (438 coins), it requires purchased Pork from the General Store and 4 Vinegar instead of 2. Sweet and Sour Cabbage is ideal for players who want a hands-off, farm-only recipe with no external purchase requirements.

Selling to the Merchant Ship on Monday at 200% price brings the sell value to 252 coins per dish. If you have surplus Sweet and Sour Cabbage that you do not need for stamina, stockpiling it for the Merchant Ship's weekly visit is an easy way to boost your earnings.

Gifting

Sweet and Sour Cabbage can be gifted to NPCs. The following preferences have been confirmed:

Sweet and Sour Cabbage is one of Regis's loved gifts, giving a significant friendship boost when gifted to him. This makes it a convenient and affordable way to build your relationship with Regis, since both ingredients come straight from your farm. Avoid gifting it to Matilda, who hates the dish, and steer clear of Bruce, Panda, and Sagewood, who all dislike it.

Related Recipes

If you are interested in similar dishes or other ways to use Cabbage, these related recipes are worth exploring:

• Sweet and Sour Pork: A higher-tier sweet and sour dish using 3 Pork, 4 Flour, 4 Sugar, and 4 Vinegar. Sells for 438 coins and restores 143 stamina. Unlocked through Island Life.

• Stir-Fried Vegetables: Another vegetable-based dish that uses various vegetables. A good alternative when you want to cook with your harvest.

• Sauerkraut Fish: Uses fermented cabbage (sauerkraut) alongside fish. A different way to incorporate cabbage-related ingredients into your cooking rotation.

• Ruby Borscht: A hearty soup that uses Beetroot as its primary vegetable. Another farm-to-table recipe for players who enjoy growing their own ingredients.

Tips

• With only 2 ingredients and a 59-second cook time, Sweet and Sour Cabbage is one of the fastest recipes to mass-produce. If you need quick stamina food or want to fill orders rapidly, this is an excellent choice.

• Each Cabbage seed produces 4 Cabbage per harvest. Since you only need 2 per cook, a single harvest supports two batches of Sweet and Sour Cabbage. Plant a row of Cabbage seeds and you will have enough for many cooking sessions.

• Cabbage only grows in Summer and Autumn. Plan ahead by growing extra Cabbage during those seasons and storing it for use in Winter and Spring. A few stacks in your storage chest will last through the off-seasons.

• This recipe uses only 2 Vinegar per batch, which is half of what Sweet and Sour Pork requires. If your Brewing Barrel supply is limited, prioritize this dish over pork-based recipes to stretch your Vinegar further.

• Since Regis loves this dish, keep a few in your inventory for gifting whenever you pass through town. It is one of the cheapest loved gifts you can give him, since it requires no purchased ingredients.

• For maximum profit, sell surplus dishes to the Merchant Ship on Monday for 252 coins each (200% of the 126 base price). This more than doubles your return compared to selling through regular channels.

• The 20 Cooking EXP per dish adds up quickly when you are mass-producing Sweet and Sour Cabbage. It is a solid way to level up your cooking skill while also generating income and stamina food.