Fried Cabbage and Bacon

When we used to have big family dinners with Grandma, cabbage rolls were always in the mix.  And I can make a mean (and even and ugly) cabbage roll but time does not always allow.  So, to pay homage to the cabbage roll for family dinners I sometimes make fried cabbage (which secretly I love more than cabbage rolls).

Everything tastes better with bacon.  Everything.

So fried cabbage HAS to be better with bacon, right?  Right.

And it is.  Trust me.  Trust the people who eat it. 

Or just go ahead and make some yourself and you'll be a believer too!  You just can't beat some delicious fried cabbage with bacon!

Fried Cabbage and Bacon

1 head of cabbage (3 lbs)
4 slices of bacon
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 onion
1 tsp pepper

Begin by slicing the bacon into small pieces.








Cut the cabbage into quarters and remove the core.  Remove any outer leaves that look to be wilted too.

Then cut cabbage quarters into 1/2" slices.










 Dice onions roughly.  They are going to be well cooked so don't be scared to make them slightly larger than diced.








Heat a large stock pot over medium high heat and add the bacon.  Cook until crisp.  Remove the bacon from the pot and reserve for later use.

Be sure to keep all the bacon drippings - they are going to make your cabbage YUMMY!!

Reduce the heat to medium.







Add the butter to the pot and saute the onions until opaque (about 5 minutes).











Next, add the sliced cabbage to the onions.  Yes, it's going to look like a LOAD of cabbage and you're going to wonder how the heck it's all going to fit....but it will.  Trust me!

Let that cabbage sit for about 5 minutes but don't stir the pot.  Ha ha!!  Ok - really.  Don't stir.

After 5 minutes or when the cabbage on the bottom of the pot is browned, give the cabbage a quick stir and add the water, sugar and pepper. 

Stir again and cook covered until the cabbage has reached the tenderness you desire, stirring a few times here and there.

See how much volume it loses?  Cool, hey?  That's why I said not to panic!

I prefer mine a bit on the crunchy side, so I cooked it for about 15 minutes.

When done, add the crumbled bacon and toss well.

Best served hot and as a vegetable side dish.  Or, grab a bowl and fill it up!

Hope you enjoy!

--The Cook