Side Dishes
Southern Fried Cabbage
Fried cabbage is the weeknight side that takes twenty minutes and still tastes like Sunday. High heat, a little smoke and plenty of black pepper do all of the work.
Prep time
10 min
Cook time
20 min
Total time
30 min
Servings
6
Ingredients
- 1 large head green cabbage, cored and chopped
- 4 slices bacon, chopped (or 1/2 cup diced smoked turkey)
- 1 onion, sliced thin
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 1
Render the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove and reserve, leaving the fat.
- 2
Cook the onion in the fat 4 minutes, then add the garlic and pepper flakes for 30 seconds.
- 3
Add the cabbage in batches, tossing as it wilts.
- 4
Pour in the broth, add the sugar and black pepper, cover and steam 6 to 8 minutes.
- 5
Uncover, raise the heat and cook off the liquid until the edges caramelize. Stir the bacon back in and season.
Heritage Kitchen Tips
- Use your widest skillet so the cabbage sears instead of steaming.
- Keep some bite in the cabbage — it should not be mushy.
Ingredient substitutions
- Bacon
- Smoked turkey, andouille or olive oil plus smoked paprika
- Green cabbage
- Savoy cabbage or half cabbage, half kale
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate up to 3 days; reheat quickly over high heat.
Round out the meal
Helpful kitchen tool
Soul Food Serving Calculator
Know exactly how much fried chicken, greens, and mac to make — no guessing, no leftovers gone to waste.
Open calculatorRelated guide
Collard Greens vs. Mustard Greens vs. Turnip Greens
How the three classic greens differ in flavor, texture and cook time.
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