Sides
Braised Cabbage with Bacon and Sweet Onion
Wedges of cabbage braise slowly with crisped bacon and sweet onion until silky and caramelized, a humble side that turns richly flavorful.
Cabbage gets a bad reputation for being bland, but braised low and slow in bacon fat, it turns sweet, tender, and almost buttery. This is the side dish my family requests most after the greens run out at the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head green cabbage, cored and cut into wedges
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
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1
Crisp the baconIn a large deep skillet or Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 6 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pan.
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2
Caramelize the onionAdd the sliced onion to the bacon drippings and cook over medium-low heat until softened and lightly golden, about 8 minutes.
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3
Add the cabbageNestle the cabbage wedges into the pan and pour in the chicken broth, vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes.
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4
Cover and braiseBring to a simmer, cover, and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, turning the wedges once halfway through, until the cabbage is fork-tender.
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5
Reduce the liquidUncover and increase heat slightly, letting the liquid reduce for 5 minutes until it clings lightly to the cabbage.
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6
Finish and serveStir the crisped bacon back in, season with salt and pepper, and serve hot straight from the skillet.
Okra & Oak Tip
Leave the core partially intact when cutting the wedges so they hold together through the long braise instead of falling apart.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; reheat gently in a covered skillet with a splash of broth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Savoy or napa cabbage both work well, though they'll cook a bit faster than a dense green cabbage, so check for tenderness a few minutes early.
It has a very mild warmth from the red pepper flakes, but you can easily omit them entirely for a completely mild dish.
Nutrition
Per serving. Values are estimates.
170
Calories
6g
Protein
14g
Carbs
11g
Fat
