Sometimes green cabbage gets a bum rap. Many of you have had unpleasant run-ins with overcooked boiled cabbage: mushy, gray, and stinky. Don’t let that turn you off cabbage forever. Cabbage is sorta like those bad boy Brussels sprouts which also got an undeserved bad rap. How long it takes: less than a half hour Equipment you’ll need: large pan, sharp knife Servings: 8 Let’s give these guys a second chance. Brussels sprouts are already regaining popularity. Gone are the days of boiled Brussels! We’ve been introduced to new and improved Brussels: roasted Brussels sprouts, air fryer Brussels sprouts, sautéed Brussels sprouts, cheesy Brussels sprouts au gratin. They’ve been remade and now we love ’em! Let’s start a love affair with cooked cabbage. And why not? Cabbage is super nutritious, inexpensive, keeps well, and it tastes great. It’s in the same family as Brussels sprouts (but Brussels sprouts are not baby cabbages). Don’t forget, cabbage is the main ingredient in coleslaw and everyone pretty much loves that, from creamy coleslaw to vinegar coleslaw to Asian coleslaw salad. Give sautéed cabbage a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised (or maybe I’m preaching to the choir). It’s mild-tasting, almost buttery in flavor, and just tender, with a little bit of crispness remaining. Why should kale and spinach get all the glory? Cooked cabbage is traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day (be sure to check out my list of St. Patrick’s Day recipes), so you’ll likely see good deals on cabbage this time of year. Since it’s a cold weather crop, cabbage is readily available in fall, winter, and spring.
About This Recipe
This simple side dish goes well with most meals. Sautéed cabbage is easy to prepare and can be on the table in less than a half hour. Just slice it up and cook it until it’s lightly browned, tender, and oh, so good. There are many ways you can enhance the cooked cabbage. This recipe includes a clove of minced garlic, a squeeze of lemon, and optional red pepper flakes. Feel free to change things up however you prefer. I’ll give you some ideas in the Make It Your Own section below. Be sure to try my sweet and sour red cabbage, too!
What You’ll Need
Cabbage: This recipe is written for green cabbage. Buy a small head of cabbage, about one and a half pounds. If you can only find large cabbages, use half for this recipe and the other half to make coleslaw later on this week. Butter & Olive Oil: Use a combination of butter and oil to sauté the cabbage. Butter gives the cabbage good flavor; oil has a higher smoke point. Omit the butter and use all oil to make this dish vegan and non-dairy. Garlic: Just a hint of garlic really enhances the flavor. If you are a garlic lover, you may want to add more than one clove, or the garlic can be left out if you prefer. Salt & Pepper: Season the cabbage to taste. Red pepper flakes can be used instead of black pepper. Lemon: This ingredient is optional but I encourage you to give it a try. The lemon juice really perks up the recipe with bright acidic flavor.
How To Make It
The first step is prepping the cabbage. Remove the loose outer leaves and rinse the cabbage thoroughly under cool running water. Place the cabbage on a cutting board and, using a large sharp knife, cut it in half, then into quarters.
Next, remove the solid core from each quarter. Slice into the cabbage, using a triangular cut, and lift the core out.
Slice each quarter into thin slices, from top to bottom. It will look like a big pile of cabbage; in fact, you should end up with eight to ten cups of sliced cabbage. The cabbage cooks down quite a bit, to about 4 cups.
You’ll need a large deep skillet or Dutch oven to sauté the cabbage. Put the butter and oil into the pan, and heat it until the butter melts. Add the garlic and cook it briefly, just until it starts to smell really great.
Throw in all the cabbage, sprinkle it with salt and pepper, and stir well. It takes a bit of stirring to distribute the oil, garlic, and seasonings. Continue to cook the cabbage, giving it a stir now and then, for about fifteen minutes.
Really, the cooking time is a suggestion. Some folks like their cabbage to retain a bit of crispness and color; other prefer the cabbage to be soft and well-cooked. Use your own discretion. You’re the cook in your kitchen!
Hint: If you prefer the cabbage well done, cover the pan while the cabbage cooks. The cover will hold in the steam which helps the cabbage soften.
Right before serving, spritz the cabbage with a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir it in and taste the cabbage. You may want to add a bit more salt and pepper. I write my recipes using a minimal amount of salt so that you can season it the way you prefer. Salt is easy to add but really difficult to remove once it’s in the dish.
Sautéed cabbage is a great side dish. It’s an easy vegetable to prepare and the mild buttery flavor goes with pretty much anything. Try it with breaded pork chops (we love air fryer breaded pork chops, too!), orange glazed salmon, or Swedish meatballs. It goes well with grilled or barbecued meat, too.
Make It Your Own
Like fried cabbage? Omit oil and butter. Brown 3 to 4 strips of bacon cut into one inch pieces. Remove bacon from pan when crisp. Sauté cabbage in bacon grease. If desired, add 1 teaspoon cider vinegar or sugar to taste. Garnish with crisp bacon bits. Add onion: Cabbage and onions is a good combination. Cook one thinly sliced onion in the oil before you add the garlic, until it softens somewhat. Add the garlic, then continue with the recipe as directed. Skip the lemon juice. If you like, add a bit of cider vinegar or a teaspoon of sugar instead.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Leftover sautéed cabbage can be stored in a covered container and refrigerated for three to five days. If you have a lot of cabbage leftover, it can be frozen. Let it cool down, put it into resealable bags and flatten. Freeze for up to six months. There’s no need to thaw it before reheating. Reheat individual portions of cabbage in the microwave; larger portions can be warmed up in a skillet.
Leftover Love
Add flavor and nutrition to soups with leftover cabbage. Even canned soups benefit from the addition of cabbage. Quick-Start Guide!
