This is an easy-to-make, healthy recipe for fried cabbage with bacon. It's the perfect cabbage side dish or a delightful light meal on its own.
This fried cabbage with bacon is simple, comforting, and full of flavor. It makes a wonderful and filling main dish when served with Romanian polenta, homemade yeast rolls, or spelt bread, and it is great as a side dish for Pork Neck or Oven Beef Ribs.
Except for tomatoes, cabbage must be the one vegetable I liked the most as a child. From simple white cabbage salad or stewed cabbage with or without any meat to my favorite Romanian cabbage rolls – Sarmale, any cabbage recipe my grandmother ever cooked during my childhood was sure to please me.
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Recipe ingredients
Cabbage is the second cheapest vegetable, after potatoes. I give you the grams or ounces of cabbage because a head of cabbage can come in different sizes. I could buy a small one weighing no more than 1 kg/ about 2 lbs, or I could buy a huge one weighing 4 kg/ 8.8 lbs. You will need about 1 kg/ 2.2 lbs cabbage for this fried cabbage with bacon recipe.
Bacon: I use lean and already diced bacon. Regular streaky bacon can be used instead. Bacon slices or bacon pieces should be chopped rather finely. Turkey bacon can also be used.
And if you like fried cabbage, check out this Simple Fried Cabbage with Sausage recipe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to season the cabbage?
Sweet paprika powder - I usually take Hungarian sweet paprika powder because I always have it in my spice cupboard. However, regular and good-quality sweet paprika powder is fine. When it comes to paprika powder, I always recommend buying the best quality you can afford; cheap paprika powder only tastes like dust.
Caraway seeds are so great in any cabbage dish. Traditionally, people would use caraway seeds to make cabbage more digestible. For instance, caraway tea is always great when you feel bloated.
How to make fried cabbage with bacon?
- Chop the cabbage and slice the onions. Cut the bacon into cubes. Finely chop the garlic cloves. Keep everything separate.
- Fry the bacon and onions in a small amount of oil. Only use some oil if using lean bacon or turkey bacon. Regular bacon is fatty enough, so the fat will render.
- Drain the excess fat out of the pan before adding the rest of the ingredients, keeping only about 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
- Add the garlic and stir for 1 or 2 minutes. Add the cabbage to the pot, stir well, and fry for about 6-7 minutes, stirring often or until softer.
- Add the spices, tomato, and some vegetable broth. Cover and cook for another 6-7 minutes or until the cabbage is almost done. You might want to cook the cabbage for a shorter or longer period of time; depending on your taste, the cabbage can remain crunchy or get soft.
- Add the balsamic vinegar and cook the cabbage for another 4-5 minutes without the lid. Adjust the taste with more salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar.
Storage and freezing
Fried cabbage with bacon keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days and can be easily reheated. For meal planning, you can freeze it in whole batches or portions, storing it in freezer bags or airtight containers for 4-5 months or longer. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz lean bacon 100 g, Note 1
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil also Note 1
- 2 medium onions
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 lbs white or green cabbage 1 kg
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds Note 2
- 1 medium tomato or 3 small ones
- ¾ cup vegetable broth 180 ml
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar + more to taste
- fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- small bunch of parsley
Instructions
- Chop the cabbage and set it aside. Cut the bacon into cubes and slice the onions. Finely chop the garlic cloves. Keep the garlic separated from the bacon and onions.2 lbs white or green cabbage/ 1kg + 3.5 oz lean bacon/ 100 g + 2 medium onions + 3 garlic cloves
- Cook bacon: Heat the oil (only if using lean bacon) in a large skillet. Saute the bacon and the onions until the fat has rendered and the onion slices are golden. Pour out most of the rendered bacon fat, keeping only about 1-2 tablespoons of the fat.1 tablespoon vegetable oil + bacon
- Fry cabbage: Add the chopped garlic cloves to the pan and stir for 1-2 minutes. Add the chopped cabbage. It will seem like a lot, but the cabbage will wilt down after a few minutes of cooking time. Cover and cook for about 6-7, stirring well a few times in between.
- Add the sweet paprika powder, sugar, caraway, some salt, and pepper. Stir well and add the finely chopped tomato and the vegetable broth. Cover the pan and saute for another 6-7 minutes or until the cabbage is almost done. You might want to cook the cabbage for a shorter or longer period of time, depending on your taste, the cabbage can remain crunchy or get even softer. But it should not become mushy.1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + ½ teaspoon granulated sugar + ½ teaspoon caraway seeds + 1 medium tomato + ¾ cup vegetable broth/ 180 ml
- Adjust taste: Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Stir well and cook the cabbage for another 4-5 minutes without the lid. Adjust the taste generously with more sea salt and pepper, balsamic vinegar, and a little sugar. The cabbage should taste slightly sweet and sour.1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar + fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Stir in the chopped parsley.small bunch of parsley
Jean says
Awesome cabbage recipe! I used Szeged Sweet Paprika, which I highly recommend. With the leftover, I reheated it in the microwave and topped it with a fried egg. Kiddos loved a "new" breakfast!
Adina says
It sounds great! Never had cabbage for breakfast but now I am considering it! I am so happy you liked the recipe. Buying the right paprika is so important, the cheap one sold in many stores it only tastes of dust.
mjskitchen says
A very exciting way to enjoy cabbage! We could make a full meal out of this one.
angiesrecipes says
Such a great side dish!
Zerrin says
Hi Adina! This is an amazing cabbage recipe to serve as a side. We mostly have cabbage in salads or soups, so this one will be a great change! I'm sure it will be loved even by the cabbage hater in the family (hubby) thanks to bacon.