Description
Mouthwatering fried cabbage with bacon, onion, and garlic combines Southern comfort with quick skillet magic. Crispy bacon bits, caramelized onions, and tender cabbage create a delightful side dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 lbs / 900 g), cored and chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bacon Rendering: Slice bacon into bite-sized pieces and cook in a cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat until crisp and golden, allowing fat to release completely.
- Aromatic Foundation: Remove crispy bacon to a paper towel, leaving drippings in the skillet. Sauté diced onions in the bacon fat until they become translucent and develop a soft caramel color.
- Flavor Layering: Add minced garlic to the onions, stirring quickly to prevent burning and release its robust aroma without scorching.
- Cabbage Transformation: Introduce chopped cabbage to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat with bacon fat and allowing it to wilt and slightly caramelize around the edges while stirring occasionally.
- Seasoning Symphony: Sprinkle smoked paprika, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, adjusting to taste. Deglaze with a splash of apple cider vinegar to brighten the rich flavors and add a tangy dimension.
- Final Fusion: Reincorporate crispy bacon pieces into the cabbage, gently folding to distribute evenly. Garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Control Bacon Crispness: Render bacon slowly at medium-low heat to achieve perfect golden crispiness without burning, ensuring maximum flavor development and ideal texture.
- Prevent Cabbage Waterlogging: Pat cabbage dry before cooking and use high heat to encourage caramelization, avoiding soggy results by allowing moisture to evaporate quickly.
- Optimize Flavor Layering: Add garlic after onions to prevent burning and maximize aromatic intensity, creating a robust flavor foundation for the entire dish.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute bacon with turkey bacon or smoked mushrooms for vegetarian versions, maintaining the dish’s smoky depth while accommodating different dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg