Description
Fried Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Without Bacon is a delicious and healthy side dish that features sweet, tender cabbage and onions caramelized to perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head green cabbage, about 2½–3 lb
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp brown sugar, optional
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Remove the outer leaves from the cabbage and cut it into quarters. Remove the tough core and slice the cabbage into thin strips. Slice the onions thinly and set aside.
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften and turn golden. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add the Cabbage: Add the sliced cabbage to the skillet. It may look like a lot at first, but it will shrink considerably as it cooks. Season with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Toss everything together and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Caramelize: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking for 15–20 minutes, stirring every few minutes so the cabbage cooks evenly. If the cabbage starts sticking, add a tablespoon or two of water and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. For a slightly sweeter caramelized flavor, stir in the brown sugar during the final 5 minutes.
- Finish: Once the cabbage is tender and deeply golden around the edges, stir in the apple cider vinegar. Add red pepper flakes if you want a little heat. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. Cook for another 1–2 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Don’t rush the cooking: Low and slow cooking gives the cabbage those delicious browned, caramelized edges.
- Use a large skillet so the cabbage has enough room to brown instead of simply steaming.
- For deeper flavor, let some of the cabbage sit undisturbed for a minute or two before stirring.
- The brown sugar is optional—the onions naturally provide sweetness as they caramelize.
- A splash of apple cider vinegar at the end balances the sweetness and adds brightness.
- Serve as a side dish with roasted chicken, pork chops, burgers, or over rice for a simple meatless meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg