Best Southern Cabbage Recipes
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Southern cabbage recipes – In the heart of Southern kitchens, cabbage has long been cherished as much for its hearty simplicity as for its versatility. This leafy vegetable seamlessly melds into a variety of dishes, coming alive with a fusion of flavors unique to the region’s cooking traditions.
I’ve witnessed first-hand how a well-prepared cabbage dish can ignite the taste buds and warm the soul, offering both comfort and nourishment on a single plate.
Delightfully, I present to you my revised recipes, made with modern cooking appliances, that have garnered acclaim for converting even the most ardent cabbage skeptics into fervent enthusiasts!
In this dish, cabbage sheds its humble image, adopting a rich tapestry of tastes that includes the aromas of sautéed onions, the boldness of garlic, the depth of Old Bay seasoning, and optionally smoked meats.
The texture is perfected to be tender, yet retains a bite, creating a satisfying and delectable balance. It’s a celebration of Southern soul food cuisine that invites everyone to the table with the promise of transforming a simple head of cabbage into a centerpiece of culinary joy.
What are Southern cabbage recipes?
Southern cabbage recipes (cooked cabbage) are Southern charm on a plate! Down-home cooking.
Cabbage is a cornerstone of Southern cooking, beloved for its adaptability and comforting presence. Cooking cabbage (frying, steaming, boiling, or pressure cooking) turns cabbage into a star, enchanting those previously unconvinced of its delights.
Best Southern cabbage recipes
So, I’ve taken the classic Southern cabbage recipe and made a few tweaks that truly bring out the bold flavors we all love for the best soul food Southern cabbage recipes!
Imagine the aromas of savory Southern seasonings in a flavorful broth in a simmering pot set to the comforting background of home-cooked meals.
Southern fried cabbage with flavor recipes ingredients
Learn more in my post HERE about what to add to cabbage for flavor.
- yellow onion (or onion powder)
- chicken broth or chicken stock (vegetable broth for vegetarians)
- apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- butter
- Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
- garlic powder
- red pepper flakes
- salt
- black pepper
What is the best season for cabbage?
Cooked green cabbage or red cabbage is a perfect comfort food recipe and a cool-season vegetable suited for winter, spring, and fall. Use a sharp chef’s knife to chop your whole head of cabbage into smaller pieces for a simple recipe main dish with lots of flavors!
What are some creative ways to cook Southern cabbage?
I’ve layered it in a punch of heat with red pepper flakes and coupled it with the rich undertones of garlic, butter, and onions, creating a robust and satisfying flavor profile. These reimagined versions are not just a feast for your taste buds. But also simple to prepare.
How do you make this recipe in an Instant Pot?
Don’t tell grandma! But to make a Southern cabbage recipe, you won’t need heavy pork ingredients, ham hocks, or long cook times.
It’s a good thing! Because of modern kitchen appliance inventions, Southern-style cabbage recipes can be pressure-cooked in only 4 minutes (Wowza!) in the Instant Pot – fully cooked and infused with lots of flavor!
No more draining the bacon fat, bacon drippings, or bacon grease! And you won’t even need a large cast iron skillet or frying pan – it’s optional! Simply place the cabbage and all ingredients into the pressure cooker on the high-pressure cook setting. In less than 5 minutes (4 minutes cooking time, to be exact), you’ll have a super soulful and flavorful easy side dish!
Check out the instructional video I’ve put together for how to make a Black folks’ inspired Southern cabbage recipe.
What are some easy Southern cabbage recipes for beginners?
From Southern cabbage with bacon to an easy Southern fried cabbage recipe with soul food seasoning. Whether you’re an experienced home chef or new to the kitchen, you’ll appreciate the visual cues and hands-on tips that make these one-pot wonder recipes a breeze.
What are the most flavorful Southern cabbage recipes?
Southern fried cabbage with soul food flavor or cooked cabbage made the Jamaican way. Check out these delicious cabbage recipe varieties, and let me know which one is your favorite!
What are some popular Southern cabbage recipes?
Embrace my most popular cabbage recipes above, and make them your own to please the palate and provide comfort on any day of the year!
What goes well with Southern fried cabbage?
Fried cabbage is an iconic Southern recipe, often served with a soul food Sunday dinner. It can also be served with a variety of Southern America’s favorite side dishes like fried chicken, corned beef and cabbage, candied yams, or baked macaroni and cheese.
Learn more about what to serve with fried cabbage HERE.
Southern cabbage recipes FAQs
Why do you put vinegar in cabbage when boiling it?
Vinegar adds a nice tang to Southern cabbage recipes, balancing the natural sweetness and leaving it bursting with delicious flavor.
How do you cook cabbage without making it soggy?
Carefully taste a bite of the cabbage leaves. (Caution: They will be hot!) If the leaves are very tender, the cabbage is done. You want tender cabbage, not soggy.
How do you store and reheat Southern fried cabbage?
Cooked cabbage can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Then, reheat by the serving in the microwave, or the whole batch can be warmed on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot to enjoy once again the savory flavors of Southern culture.
Did you enjoy these Southern soul food style cabbage recipes?
Have you had this simple side dish, easy meal?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Or, Cast iron skillet with lid
Ingredients
- 4 pound cabbage 3-4 pound cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth or use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup butter unsalted or vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Instructions for a Southern cabbage recipe in the Instant Pot
- Cut out the cabbage's core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. (I remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.)
- Add the shredded cabbage and all the ingredients (onion, chicken apple cider vinegar, butter, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper) into the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
- Sink the chopped cabbage as much as you can into the liquid broth.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (ensure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
- When cooking is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve this Southern cabbage recipe warm right out of the Pot, or transfer to your favorite skillet for tabletop serving, and enjoy!
Instructions for a Southern cabbage recipe on the stovetop
- Cut out the cabbage's core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. (I remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.)
- Turn the stovetop on medium and add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the chopped cabbage, onion, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
- Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered for about 15 minutes, careful not to let all the broth evaporate so the cabbage is not dry.
- When cooking is finished, serve this Southern dish right away and enjoy!
- Pro tip: How can you tell when the cabbage is cooked?Carefully taste a bite of the cabbage leaves. (Caution: They will be hot!) If the leaves are very tender, the cabbage is done!
Video
Notes
