How to Make Bacon Fried Cabbage

Bacon and garlic are the secret ingredients in this recipe, as they make it so yummy. It is budget-friendly and comes with a variety of toppings. You can replace the bacon with sausage or use potatoes for a vegetarian version.

How to fry cabbage?

There are a variety of fried cabbage recipes online, but this is the one that delivers the most flavor of authentic southern-style cooking because you will be frying your shredded cabbage in bacon grease.

You won't need to seek for bacon grease since you'll fry the bacon first, crisp it up, and then remove it with a slotted spoon to keep as much grease in the pan as possible. The cabbage will be fried in the retained bacon grease.

Tips for cooking bacon fried rice

Bacon of any kind can be used, including conventional, turkey, and even vegan bacon. If you're using turkey or vegan bacon, keep in mind that they're not particularly oily, so you will need to add more oil or butter.

Overcooking the cabbage will result in an extremely soft and mushy texture.

If you do not like bacon, you can use your favorite sausage or diced ham instead

To make the dish vegetarian you can omit meat and replace it with tofu or potatoes.

When cutting the cabbage for cooking, make sure to cut it into uniform pieces to achieve even cooking.

Add some Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper or chili red pepper flakes to make it spicier.

Make a large batch of fried cabbage and keep some leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days as fried cabbage makes great leftovers.

A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or white/brown sugar are optional additions to your bacon and fried cabbage. Use a sweetener like Swerve or Natvia if you are on the Keto-diet.

Ingredients

1 large head green or red cabbage, cored and sliced

6 slices bacon, chopped

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced or chopped

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

1/2 teaspoon each onion powder and garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or smoky paprika

Procedure

Heat a wide cast-iron skillet or a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 

Add bacon pieces and cook until crispy. Once cooked, transfer the cooked bacon to a plate using a slotted spoon and retain the bacon drippings.

Sauté the onion in the bacon grease until the onion caramelizes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

Stir in the cabbage and cook for a further 8 minutes while stirring occasionally.

Season to taste onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning or paprika.

Mix bacon into the cabbage to warm through. Cover the pan and simmer the cabbage until it attains the desired softness.

Serve immediately, and garnish with chopped green onions if desired

Why you should eat cabbage

Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber are abundant in cabbage. Toxins, which are the principal causes of arthritis, gout, and skin illnesses, are reduced by vitamin C. Cabbage may also lower the risk of certain malignancies, including colorectal cancer. A cup of boiled cabbage contains only 33 calories and is high in fiber and low in fat. Cabbage is also high in antioxidants, which help keep skin looking healthy, toned, blemish-free, and shining.

Conclusion

Fried cabbage is a traditional Irish side dish made by frying cabbage with onion, garlic, and basic spices in a pan. Fried cabbage is tasty and adds additional flavor to the meal when cooked in bacon fat.

Fried cabbage with bacon cooking is a delicious low-carb and keto-friendly main dish or side dish. It can be served with buttery cauliflower mash, roast chicken, hog roast, or a luscious pan-seared steak with a mushroom cream sauce, or any other preferred size.