Thanks to a conversation with cousin Maureen for introducing us to Southern Fried Cabbage. I noticed her posting on Facebook a few weeks back, and then we got to chatting via phone about our culinary endeavors while on the pandemic “lockdown.” She really gushed about how she and her husband Marty loved the dish, and I knew I had to get it into the dinner rotation soon.
Truth be told, I was a tad worried about the bacon factor. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the smell and taste of bacon, but it often doesn’t love me back. But I powered through my hesitation and went full steam with the recipe. Boy, am I glad I did, and so was the Mister.
Bacon gives it the smoky flavor that is put over the top by just enough brown sugar and apple cider vinegar—the right proportions so as not to overwhelm. The cabbage is melt-in-your-mouth tender and succulent, amazingly so because there is very little fat (just a couple of tablespoons from the bacon) and no other liquid.
Our steak entrées were first cooked in a water bath with fresh herbs and garlic. They were finished with a quick sear with a little butter and those herbs in a super-hot carbon steel pan. As a side dish, the cabbage was a perfect compliment to our medium-rare rib-eye steaks. Oh, and a glass of pinot noir didn’t hurt either… Bellísimo!
Southern Fried Cabbage
Ingredients
- 5 strips bacon, diced raw
- 1 head cabbage, chopped
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- Black pepper to taste
Directions
- Add chopped bacon to a large heavy pot such as a dutch oven.
- Cook bacon over medium heat until extra crispy.
- Remove bacon from pot, leaving the fat.
- Add cabbage to pot and cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring every minute or so.
- Add chopped onion and continue cooking 5 more minutes, continue stirring every minute.
- Add Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder and brown sugar.
- Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is cooked through.
- Add cooked bacon to cabbage and taste to adjust seasonings and serve.
Accounting for Taste 