Description
Southern-style fried cabbage with bacon, onion, and garlic delivers a hearty skillet dish packed with savory flavors. Crispy bacon and caramelized vegetables combine for a comforting side you’ll crave with any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 lb / 900 g), cored and chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (optional, for tanginess)
- chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bacon Rendering: Heat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Crisp the bacon until golden, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate while preserving the rendered fat in the pan.
- Onion Caramelization: Reduce heat to medium and sauté sliced onions in bacon drippings until they soften and turn a rich golden color, developing a sweet, mellow flavor profile.
- Aromatic Infusion: Add minced garlic and swiftly toast for a moment, releasing its intense fragrance without burning, creating a flavor foundation for the dish.
- Cabbage Transformation: Introduce shredded cabbage into the skillet, tossing thoroughly with onion and garlic. Allow the cabbage to wilt and become tender, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent scorching.
- Seasoning and Enhancement: Sprinkle kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes across the mixture. Splash apple cider vinegar to inject a bright, tangy dimension that balances the bacon’s richness.
- Final Fusion: Continue cooking until cabbage reaches a perfect consistency – tender with slightly crisp edges. Reintegrate the crispy bacon pieces, gently folding to distribute flavors throughout the dish.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer the vibrant, fragrant cabbage mixture to a serving dish, ready to accompany robust main courses with its rustic, comforting appeal.
Notes
- Crisp Bacon Selection: Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crunchier texture, ensuring better rendering of fat and more substantial bacon pieces.
- Cabbage Cutting Technique: Slice cabbage into uniform, thin strips to guarantee even cooking and prevent uneven wilting or burning.
- Temperature Control: Maintain medium heat during cooking to prevent burning garlic and allow cabbage to soften gradually without becoming mushy.
- Vinegar Balance: Add apple cider vinegar sparingly to enhance flavor without overwhelming the dish’s natural richness; start with small amounts and adjust to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg