Southern Fried Cabbage

Southern Fried Cabbage

Southern Fried Cabbage is true “soul food.” The cabbage was one of the vegetables readily available on the Southern plantations in the early days when slaves cooked for the wealthy landowners. Those early Southern cooks prepared the more expensive premium foods for the wealthy plantation owners’ families; the “throw-away” foods or foods that were extremely cheap and plentiful were what was allowed for the slaves and their families. This cabbage recipe is an example of an easy, but innovative way to prepare what was thought of as ordinary and simple vegetables.

Cabbage is still cheap today and is used extensively in Southern cooking. While it is naturally low in calories (only 16 calories in 1/2 cup of cooked cabbage), Southern cooks add all sorts of seasonings and ingredients like bacon and ham, which add significantly to the calorie count. Incidentally, according to the USDA (1/12/08), cabbage is also high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and calcium; it is a high-fiber and cruciferous vegetable, which means it may reduce the risk of cancer, especially colon cancer.

This Southern Fried Cabbage is a quick and delicious “soul food” favorite that will go well with any Southern entrée. Try it with succulent smoked ribs, Southern fried chicken, or tender Smothered Pork Chops. Round out the menu with a few other good Southern vegetable dishes (In the South, several different varieties are served at every meal), such as Slow Cooker Southern Style Green Beans, Southern Fried Okra, or baked sweet potatoes with butter and salt and pepper. After all that good food, hopefully, there will still be room for Skillet Peach Cobbler which is the perfect dessert, especially with good vanilla ice cream!

Incidentally, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (the third Monday in January) is a perfect excuse to prepare several delicious soul food favorites. Happy Cooking, Y’all!

Southern Fried Cabbage

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound bacon
  • 1 head green cabbage, (very large)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red hot pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

Cut the bacon into 1/2″ slices; transfer to a large skillet and cook until very crisp.
Remove the bacon from the pan to drain on paper towels.
Cut the cabbage into 1″ chunks; rinse with water
Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the pan and add the cabbage.
Stir fry the cabbage until it starts to get limp, then add the salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and sugar.
Continue frying until the cabbage is crisp-tender.
Stir in the reserved bacon and serve immediately.

Frequent Asked Questions:

What are the key ingredients in Southern Fried Cabbage?

The Southern Fried Cabbage recipe includes bacon, a large head of green cabbage, salt, freshly ground black pepper, crushed red hot pepper, and sugar.

How do you prepare the bacon for the recipe?

Bacon should be cut into 1/2″ slices and cooked in a large skillet until very crisp. Once cooked, it needs to be removed from the pan and drained on paper towels.

What is the recommended way to cut and prepare the cabbage?

The cabbage should be cut into 1″ chunks and rinsed with water. This ensures even cooking and proper integration with the other ingredients.

How much bacon drippings should be left in the pan for cooking the cabbage?

After cooking the bacon, pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the pan. This amount is sufficient for stir-frying the cabbage.

What is the process for stir-frying the cabbage?

After adding the cabbage to the skillet, stir fry it until it starts to get limp. Then, add the seasonings (salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and sugar) and continue frying until the cabbage is crisp-tender.

How do you reincorporate the bacon into the dish?

Once the cabbage is crisp-tender, stir in the reserved bacon and serve the dish immediately for the best flavor and texture.

What is the nutritional profile per serving of this dish?

Each serving contains approximately 147 calories, with 61% of calories from fat, 20% from protein, and 19% from carbohydrates. It also contains 10 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, and 7 grams of carbohydrates.

What are the health benefits of cabbage used in this recipe?

Cabbage, a key ingredient, is high in Vitamin C (101% of daily value per serving) and provides dietary fiber. It’s a nutritious addition to the meal.

Can this recipe be modified for dietary restrictions?

Yes, the recipe can be modified by using turkey bacon or vegetarian bacon alternatives for a lower fat content or to accommodate dietary preferences.

What are some serving suggestions for Southern Fried Cabbage?

This dish pairs well with a variety of main courses, especially grilled meats. It can also be enjoyed as a hearty stand-alone meal for a lighter dinner.

Southern Fried Cabbage

Southern Fried Cabbage

Savor the flavor of the South with our easy Southern Fried Cabbage recipe - a tasty, comforting side dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 29 minutes
Total Time 44 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 7
...

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound bacon
  • 1 head green cabbage (very large)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red hot pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Cut the bacon into 1/2" slices; transfer to a large skillet and cook until very crisp.
  • Remove the bacon from the pan to drain on paper towels.
  • Cut the cabbage into 1" chunks; rinse with water
  • Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the pan and add the cabbage.
  • Stir fry the cabbage until it starts to get limp, then add the salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and sugar.
  • Continue frying until the cabbage is crisp-tender.
  • Stir in the reserved bacon and serve immediately.

Notes

Amount per serving:
Calories 147 - Calories from Fat 90
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 61% Protein 20% Carb. 19%
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 17 mg
Sodium 629 mg
Total Carbohydrate 7 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 7 g
Vitamin A 5% Vitamin C 101% Calcium 0% Iron 6%
Keyword bacon, Cabbage