Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

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Whip up a batch of Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon tonight! This quick and engaging recipe packs a sweet, savory, and barely smoky punch with crispy bacon, onions, and a sprinkle of purple pepper flakes. It’s a snug Southern twist on a primary Irish aspect dish, good for busy weeknights. Undecided about cabbage? This dish might merely make you a fan!

Let’s discuss a dish that’s constructive to alter right into a family favorite: Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon. This tasty fried cabbage recipe is not simply straightforward to make nevertheless packs a delicious style that fully compliments any meal, notably all through these busy weeknights.

Now, this isn’t merely any aspect dish. It’s a mouth-watering mixture of tender cabbage and crispy bacon, all jazzed up with onions, up to date garlic, stone flooring mustard, a contact of purple pepper flakes, and a contact of brown sugar. It’s sweet, savory, and slightly bit smoky – primarily, the whole thing you could possibly probably want in your plate.

So, what exactly is fried cabbage? Fried cabbage does have its roots over in Ireland. They traditionally prepare dinner dinner it up by sautéing some cabbage with onions, and often they may toss in some bacon, which merely makes the whole thing larger. It’s a widespread aspect dish there, notably with one factor like colcannon—that may be a hearty combination of mashed potatoes and cabbage—or served up subsequent to corned beef. Now, when it made its means over to the Southern U.S., native cooks put their very personal spin on it. They started together with points like purple pepper flakes and stone flooring mustard to jazz it up. So whereas it started in Ireland, it’s gotten slightly little bit of a makeover proper right here throughout the South, and it matches correct into our lineup of comfort meals classics.

And hey, must you’re not a cabbage fan, stick spherical. This dish might merely win you over.

Let’s dive into what makes this southern-style cabbage the correct aspect dish.

First up, you will have an enormous cast-iron skillet or an enormous pot—these are key for getting that good style. Start by heating some chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Not solely does this step promise some severely tasty bacon objects, nevertheless you’ll moreover get all that improbable bacon fat left throughout the pan, which we’ll use to prepare dinner dinner the veggies.
As quickly as your bacon is accomplished, set these crispy chunks aside and toss in a chopped yellow onion into the bacon drippings. Sauté these onion objects until they’re good and golden. For an added layer of style, stir in some up to date garlic, stirring it to let the flavors meld collectively on medium heat.
As quickly as your garlic is good and aromatic, stir throughout the stone flooring mustard, brown sugar, and purple pepper flakes.
Subsequent, add chunks of inexperienced cabbage to the skillet. Now, must you’re like me and love slightly bit bit of heat and additional smokiness, that’s the correct time to sprinkle in some Cajun seasoning. This easy ingredient supplies a smoky style and slightly bit bit of heat, transforming the dish proper right into a flavorful aspect dish that’s full of character.
For way more richness and to keep up the cabbage correctly moist, pour in some rooster broth. This not solely helps to steam the cabbage to buttery perfection however moreover picks up all the tasty bits from the underside of the skillet. Cook dinner dinner this cabbage mixture over medium-high heat until it’s tender—merely one of the simplest ways an outstanding southern cabbage recipe must be.
Now, for an precise Southern take care of, mix that crispy bacon you set apart earlier once more into the skillet. If you happen to occur to’re feeling additional indulgent, why not add some slices of smoked sausage into the mixture? It’s all about setting up layers of good style proper right here!
Season your complete factor with kosher salt and black pepper to fashion, and must you’re like me, a bit further Cajun seasoning for that good southern kick.
Stir the whole thing correctly to combine all these beautiful flavors and let it prepare dinner dinner for a few further minutes until the whole thing is heated by and mingling correctly.

Parts for Fried Cabbage

Cabbage: Inexperienced’s my go-to shade proper right here.
Bacon: On account of bacon makes the whole thing larger.
Seasonings: I’m preserving it fairly straightforward with onion, up to date garlic, stone flooring mustard, some purple pepper flakes, and cajun seasoning for a kick.
Additional: I like in order so as to add slightly little bit of brown sugar – not an extreme quantity of, merely adequate in order so as to add a depth and further caramelization to the dish. I moreover add a small amount of rooster broth to soften the cabbage whereas cooking.

Gear I Used to Make Fried Cabbage

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Chef Secrets and techniques and strategies, Solutions and Ideas that make Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon such a standout dish:

Using a Strong-Iron Skillet: Cooking in a cast-iron skillet is not nearly customized; it’s about outcomes. The skillet distributes heat evenly and supplies your cabbage and bacon that good sear, enhancing the flavors by caramelization.
Rendering Bacon Appropriately: Start by cooking the bacon slowly over medium heat. This allows the fat to render out with out burning, leaving you with crispy bacon and a great deal of flavorful fat to prepare dinner dinner your greens in.
Sautéing Onions in Bacon Fat: After eradicating the bacon, using the remaining bacon fat to prepare dinner dinner the onions not solely makes use of the rich flavors however moreover infuses the dish with a smoky undertone from the bacon, which reinforces the sweetness of the onions.
Layering Flavors: Together with up to date garlic after the onions have softened helps cease burning and ensures that the garlic’s style melds seamlessly into the dish. Incorporating substances like stone flooring mustard and a pinch of brown sugar supplies depth and a contact of sweetness that balances the savory and smoky notes.
Deglazing with Rooster Broth: Pouring slightly bit rooster broth into the brand new skillet helps to lift any browned bits caught to the underside, which are crammed with style. This method not solely cleans the pan however moreover creates a rich, flavorful broth that the cabbage cooks in, enhancing the overall fashion of the dish.
Adjusting Heat with Cajun Seasoning: Together with Cajun seasoning introduces a bit of heat and further spice, elevating the smokiness and complexity of the dish. It’s a straightforward addition that makes an enormous affect on the flavour profile.
Cooking the Cabbage to Perfection: The essential factor to good fried cabbage is to prepare dinner dinner it until it is tender nevertheless nonetheless presents a slight chunk. This preserves a couple of of the pure texture and ensures it doesn’t grow to be too mushy.
Reincorporating the Bacon: Together with the crispy bacon once more into the skillet on the end retains it from becoming soggy and ensures its style is excellent in every chunk.
Experimenting with Additional Proteins: For a heartier dish, incorporating slices of smoked sausage can flip this aspect proper right into a foremost course, together with one different layer of style and texture to the meal.
Right Storage: Storing leftovers appropriately is important. Preserve the cabbage in an airtight container throughout the fridge to maintain its freshness and style, making certain it’s practically nearly as good the second time spherical.

A dish of Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

What to pair it with:

This dish is right as a aspect dish, or slice and sauté a bundle of smoked sausage and stir it into the cabbage and serve it as a meal with a batch of Sweet Cornbread! It’s also good alongside aspect any of these good Southern classics:

Storing it:

Cooked an unlimited batch? No worries. Merely pop it in an airtight container and it’ll maintain throughout the fridge for as a lot as 5 days. Warmth it up throughout the microwave or give it a quick sauté everytime you’re ready for yet another spherical.

This straightforward southern fried cabbage recipe isn’t merely a easy aspect dish; it’s a testament to how straightforward substances like a whole head of cabbage and some salty bacon could also be transformed proper right into a dish with such rich, satisfying flavors. So subsequent time you’re looking for a straightforward aspect that’s large on fashion, give this southern-fried cabbage a try. It’s constructive to earn its place as a staple at your dinner desk, bringing a smile to all people who tries it.

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