Description
Comforting Southern Fried Cabbage with Sausage delivers hearty flavors in one skillet, blending smoky sausage with tender cabbage leaves. Quick and satisfying, you’ll savor this classic home-style dish that warms both plate and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) smoked sausage (andouille, kielbasa, or turkey sausage), sliced
Vegetables:
- 1 small head of cabbage (about 6 cups), chopped
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar (for brightness, optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice the sausage into thin, uniform rounds to ensure even cooking and maximize flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Warm a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, allowing the surface to heat evenly before introducing olive oil.
- Sizzle the sausage pieces until they develop a rich, golden-brown exterior, rotating periodically to prevent burning and create a delectable caramelized crust.
- Transfer the browned sausage to a separate plate, preserving the flavorful drippings in the skillet for the next cooking stage.
- Reduce the skillet’s heat to medium and introduce butter, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious cooking base.
- Gently sauté the chopped onions until they become translucent and emit a sweet, aromatic fragrance.
- Incorporate minced garlic, stirring quickly to prevent scorching and release its robust essence.
- Add shredded cabbage to the skillet, seasoning generously with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes for a complex flavor profile.
- Allow the cabbage to cook slowly, stirring intermittently, enabling it to soften and develop subtle caramelized edges.
- Reintroduce the seared sausage to the vegetable mixture, ensuring thorough integration of flavors.
- Splash apple cider vinegar over the dish for a tangy brightness that cuts through the richness.
- Give the mixture a final gentle stir, allowing the ingredients to meld together for a couple of minutes.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the top for a burst of color and herbal freshness.
- Serve immediately alongside complementary side dishes like fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or golden cornbread.
Notes
- Slice sausage uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Choose a high-quality smoked sausage like andouille or kielbasa for deeper flavor complexity.
- Caramelize cabbage slowly to develop rich, sweet undertones that complement the sausage’s savory profile.
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or increasing red pepper flakes based on personal heat preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 60mg