Steaming Cabbage With Bacon: A Quick, Tasty Side Dish

Steamed cabbage with bacon is a simple yet flavourful dish that can be served as a side or a main course. The recipe involves cooking bacon and onions, adding cabbage, and simmering the dish in chicken broth or water. This dish pairs well with ham, pork roast, chicken, or beef and is an excellent choice for a family meal or special occasion. With its combination of flavours and ease of preparation, steamed cabbage with bacon is a tasty and convenient option for any occasion.

Chopping and coring the cabbage

First, place the cabbage on a clean, flat surface or cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut off a thin slice from the root stem end of the cabbage to create a flat base. This step will ensure that the cabbage rests firmly on your cutting board, making it easier to handle and chop.

Now, carefully cut the cabbage into halves, dividing it into two equal portions. Then, take each half and cut it into halves again, so you end up with four wedges of cabbage. This quartering technique will expose the core of the cabbage.

The next step is to remove the tough and fibrous core. Using your knife, carefully cut out the triangle-shaped core from each wedge. Be sure to cut close to the core to remove as much of it as possible, as it tends to be hard and unpleasant to eat.

Once the coring is done, you can proceed to chop the cabbage into your desired size. For this recipe, it is recommended to cut the cabbage into 1/2-inch strips or 1-inch pieces. You can also slice or chop the strips further to achieve smaller pieces if you prefer.

It is important to note that the size of the cabbage pieces will affect the cooking time and texture of the final dish. Smaller pieces will cook faster and become more tender, while larger pieces may require a longer cooking time to reach the desired tenderness.

Additionally, if you notice any wilted or discolored outer leaves on the cabbage, be sure to remove them before chopping. This ensures that you only use the fresh, crisp parts of the vegetable.

By following these steps, you will have successfully chopped and cored the cabbage, ready to be used in your steamed cabbage and bacon dish. Remember to work carefully with the knife and always chop away from your body for safety. Enjoy the rest of your cooking journey!

Frying the bacon

Place a large skillet or frying pan on medium to medium-high heat. You want to use a large pan to ensure the cabbage has enough space to fry properly. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until it is crispy, which should take around 10 minutes. If you are using a smaller amount of bacon, it may cook faster, so keep an eye on it to avoid burning.

Once the bacon is crispy, remove it from the pan and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess grease. You can blot the bacon with another paper towel to absorb more grease. At this point, you can also remove some of the bacon grease from the pan, leaving around one to two tablespoons. If you are using turkey bacon, which tends to produce less grease, you can add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the pan instead.

Now, you are ready to add the other ingredients to the pan, such as onions, garlic, or cabbage, and continue with the recipe.

Adding onion and garlic

Step 1: Chop the Onion and Garlic

First, peel and coarsely chop the onion. Then, mince the garlic. You can also crush the garlic cloves with a garlic press if you have one.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

Fry the bacon in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat until crispy. The amount of bacon you use can vary depending on your preference, but typically, recipes call for around 6 slices or strips of bacon. You can cut the bacon into smaller pieces before frying or cut it into squares to create generous bites of bacon throughout the dish.

Step 3: Cook the Onion and Garlic

Next, add the onion and garlic to the pan with the bacon. Cook and stir this mixture until the onion is tender and lightly browned, which should take about 4 to 10 minutes. You are aiming for the onion to caramelize.

Step 4: Add the Cabbage

Immediately stir in the cabbage and continue to cook and stir for another 10 minutes. The amount of cabbage you use will depend on how many servings you want to make, but a large head of cabbage is typically enough for 6 servings. Before adding the cabbage, you can core and slice or chop it into bite-sized pieces or wedges.

Step 5: Season and Simmer

Now it's time to season the dish with salt, pepper, and any other spices you desire. You can also add chicken broth or water at this stage if you want some extra moisture. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot or pan, and simmer the dish for about 15 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender.

Step 6: Add Bacon Back In

Once the cabbage is tender, add the crispy bacon pieces back into the pot and stir until heated through. You can also crumble the bacon and add it to the cabbage before serving if you prefer.

Tips:

• If the mixture looks dry, add a bit more broth or water as needed and continue to simmer until the cabbage is cooked to your desired tenderness.
• Make sure not to overcook the cabbage; you want it to be tender but not soggy. When cabbage is cooked too long, it releases some chemical compounds that have a sulfur odour.
• You can also add other ingredients like chopped potatoes, apples, or fresh kale to the cabbage for extra colour and nutrients.

Stirring in the cabbage

Now, it's time to stir in the cabbage!

First, add the chopped cabbage to the hot bacon fat remaining in the pan. You should have left about one or two tablespoons of bacon drippings in the pan. If you're using turkey bacon, you can add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil instead. Make sure you're using a large pan so that the cabbage fries without being crowded—you don't want it to steam!

Next, cook the cabbage for about 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently. You want the cabbage to cook evenly and get nicely browned, so turn it a few times during this process. If you're adding any other vegetables, like onions, garlic, or mushrooms, now is the time to throw them in as well.

Once the cabbage is tender, you can add the bacon back into the pan and stir to combine. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently, to ensure the bacon flavour is distributed throughout the cabbage.

At this point, you can also add any spices or herbs you'd like. Some options include salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, or caraway seeds.

Continue cooking until the cabbage is as tender as you like it. Remember, you don't want to overcook the cabbage, as it can become soggy and release some chemical compounds that have a sulfur odour.

Seasoning and serving

The key to a tasty steamed cabbage and bacon dish is in the seasoning. While salt and pepper are the most basic and common seasonings, you can also add onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, or red pepper flakes. Caraway seeds are a great addition, as they complement cabbage dishes well. You can also add a pinch of sugar if you want a hint of sweetness to balance out the savouriness of the dish.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can experiment with non-traditional seasonings like ginger, mustard, honey, or even a dash of apple cider vinegar. These unexpected flavours can take your dish to the next level.

When it comes to serving, steamed cabbage and bacon is a versatile side dish that pairs well with various main courses. It goes great with ham, pork roast, chicken, or roast beef. If you're looking for a vegetarian option, simply omit the bacon and sauté the onion in vegetable oil. You can also serve it with root vegetables like beets and carrots or grains like brown or white rice.

For a heartier meal, you can add some protein by serving this dish with ground beef, ground turkey, or sausages. It also makes a great accompaniment to roast chicken, grilled chicken, or pork chops.

Remember, the beauty of this dish is in its simplicity, so don't be afraid to experiment with different seasonings and serving combinations to find your perfect flavour profile!

Frequently asked questions