Description
Hearty fried cabbage with sausage delivers a rustic Southern comfort meal packed with savory flavors. Crispy bacon, tender cabbage, and spicy sausage combine for a satisfying one-skillet dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) smoked sausage (andouille, kielbasa, or turkey sausage), sliced
- 1 small head cabbage (about 6 cups), chopped
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar (for brightness, optional)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Slice sausage into uniform rounds to ensure even cooking and maximize flavor distribution.
- Searing: Heat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, add olive oil, and sizzle sausage pieces until golden-brown, rotating periodically to prevent burning.
- Aromatic Base: Transfer browned sausage to a plate, reduce heat to medium, melt butter, and sauté chopped onions until translucent, then quickly stir in minced garlic.
- Cabbage Transformation: Add shredded cabbage to the skillet, season with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes, cooking slowly to soften and develop caramelized edges.
- Flavor Fusion: Reintroduce seared sausage to the vegetable mixture, splash with apple cider vinegar, and stir gently to integrate flavors.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the top, and serve immediately with complementary side dishes like rice, mashed potatoes, or cornbread.
Notes
- Slice Strategically: Cut sausage into uniform, thin rounds to guarantee consistent cooking and maximize flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Heat Control Mastery: Start with medium-high skillet temperature to create perfect caramelization without burning sausage or vegetables.
- Flavor Layer Building: Use sausage drippings as a flavor base for sautéing onions and cabbage, enhancing the overall taste complexity.
- Seasoning Balance: Adjust spice levels by carefully measuring red pepper flakes and smoked paprika to suit personal heat preferences without overwhelming the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg