Our sautéed cabbage recipe is so easy and delicious, you won’t believe it’s actually cabbage! A quick sauté is all that this vegetable needs to shine, along with a bit of brown sugar to combat bitterness and smoky bacon to add flavor.
The best thing about preparing cabbage this way is that it doesn’t stink! Whether you’re looking for a new way to make cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day or want to experiment with new vegetables, this healthy side dish will tickle your taste buds and leave you wanting more!
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What Is Sautéed Cabbage with Bacon?
Poor cabbage. It has a bad reputation for being stinky, slimy, and bitter.
But it’s not the cabbage’s fault! People just haven’t found the right way to prepare it.
That’s where this Sautéed Cabbage with Bacon recipe comes in. It takes the yucky out of the equation and will leave you wondering why you haven’t made cabbage like this before!
Cabbage gets stinky (and slimy) when it’s prepared incorrectly. When St. Patrick’s Day dinner rolls around, the most commonly prepared corned beef and cabbage recipe is to put the meat and vegetables into a crock pot and let it cook all day. Unfortunately, this overcooks the cabbage and gives it a texture and odor that is… well, unappealing.
This recipe allows you to break free of the crock pot cabbage stink. By sautéing your cabbage, you’re the nutritional value of your cabbage to remain higher and it retains better color and texture. Cooking it in bacon fat gives added flavor, and a bit of brown sugar counteracts the bitterness that cabbage is known for.
This recipe tastes so different than boiled or slow cooked cabbage, your family may not even realize what they’re eating!
Is Cabbage Good for You?
Cabbage is an amazingly nutritious vegetable that has other health benefits, too.
One cup of cabbage has just 22 calories, but it’s packed with nutrients. It’s got 85% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin K, which is crucial for proper blood clotting. It is also high in Vitamin C, which plays many roles. One of them is to protect the body from a variety of diseases, including cancer.
The fiber content of cabbage works wonders for the digestive system, too. It is full of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Each of them perform special functions to keep the gut clean and healthy, like increasing the amount of beneficial bacteria and adding bulk that allows for regular bowel movements.
In addition, soluble fiber is also linked to lowering cholesterol levels by keeping it from being absorbed by the gut. Over time, this reduces LDL and can lead to lower blood pressure as well.
With so many healthy benefits, we should all be eating cabbage more often. Not just on St. Patrick’s Day!
Do You Have Any Tips or Tricks to Cooking with Cabbage?
I do!
- Choose a cabbage that is solid, with tight leaves. These are the fresher heads.
- Cabbage can be bitter. To combat that, try soaking the cut cabbage in ice water for about half an hour before cooking.
- If your cabbage is still too bitter for your taste, add more brown sugar to counteract the bitterness.
- My biggest tip: Don’t overcook your cabbage! Overcooking is what causes cabbage to stink. Sauté it until it looks wet and vibrant, and until it softens without losing too much consistency.
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Directions
- Fry bacon in a deep sauté pan until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserving fat in pan. Lay bacon on paper towel to drain and set aside.
- Add chopped onion to bacon fat. Sauté onion until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold chopped cabbage and brown sugar into bacon fat in batches. Sauté 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Add cooked bacon to pan, stir to incorporated. Heat until bacon is warm. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
What Should I Serve with Sautéed Cabbage with Bacon?
- For a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, try our Beer Braised Corned Beef
- Savory cabbage goes so well with Lemon-Rosemary Roast Chicken
- Stuffed Pork Tenderloin is a wonderful main dish that pairs well with cabbage
Easy Sautéed Cabbage with Bacon
Difficulty: Easy8
servings10
minutes30
minutes40
minutesA quick sauté is all that our Easy Sauteed Cabbage with Bacon needs to shine, along with a touch of brown sugar and a bit of onion for flavor.
Ingredients
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium head cabbage, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Directions
- Fry bacon in a deep sauté pan until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserving fat in pan. Lay bacon on paper towel to drain and set aside.
- Add chopped onion to bacon fat. Sauté onion until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Fold chopped cabbage and brown sugar into bacon fat in batches. Sauté 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Add cooked bacon to pan, stir to incorporated. Heat until bacon is warm. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Notes
- Cabbage can be bitter. To combat that, try soaking the cut cabbage in ice water for about half an hour before cooking.
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