Cabbage. The red-headed stepson of the brassica family. Not nearly as good as its broccoli and cauliflower cousins when dipped in ranch dressing. The food of famines, of the poor, of your gassy great uncle. And who can forget that famous line in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Cabbage Soup is not enough!
But I’m not so sure cabbage deserves such a bad reputation. In fact, it’s the base of one of even my kids’ favorite meals. A recipe that lends itself perfectly to local eating this time of year depending only on store-able baking potatoes, garlic, a little on-the-hoof goodness, bacon, and the underrated spring green itself, cabbage. It’s a recipe that is so scrumptious I wish I could take full credit, but I must give credit for where credit is due; a recipe inspired by Rachel Ray’s Bacon Cabbage Home Fries.
Now, I must warn you. I never measure. If there were a religion against measuring I would probably join it. And I purposely make a lot of this particular dish so that there will be ample leftovers the next day; it’s one of those dishes that gets better after an overnight stay in the fridge. But if you can deal with a little experimentation and a heaping helping of leftovers you simply must give this one a try. So, without further ado, my Bacon Cabbage Home Fries:
1 lb Thick Cut Bacon, Cut into 1 inch Squares
1 medium Baking Potato per person you’re serving, cut into bite size chunks
1 medium head Cabbage, Sliced in thin strips
1 medium Onion — whatever type you have on hand, just roll with it — diced
Garlic, to taste. I use a lot!
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
In a deep stock pot cook bacon over medium heat until done. Remove, set aside. Add potatoes, onions and garlic to bacon grease (I never said this was a healthy recipe, just a favorite.) and cook, stirring regularly, until potatoes are tender. Add cabbage and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring, until cabbage is wilted. Salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
Of course, you could also skip the kitchen and just click over to Etsy through any one of the amazing photos in this post and choose some cabbage inspired decor for your home, too.
BeckyKay says
April 14, 2011 at 9:23 amsurprisingly, one of my kid’s favorite foods is cabbage based, too. And he’s a terribly picky eater!
Diana says
April 19, 2011 at 5:48 amWhen people come to the farm for the first time they often see my kids in the garden picking produce off the vine and eating it right there, like an apple. I’m afraid it’s kind of become the side show of the farm experience here. So glad to hear of someone else’s kid who likes unconventional foods, too. Especially a picky one!
lisa @thebeadgirl says
April 15, 2011 at 4:21 amok, totally going to dive into the cabbage because the recipe sounds great!
but i’m also “pinning” your finds from etsy! {{swoon}}
thanks for sharing!
~ lisa
Diana says
April 19, 2011 at 5:50 amAren’t they fabulous?! If I hadn’t done the search myself I would never believe that searching for cabbage art could return such awesome results.
You may have to hurry if you want to beat me to the folksy bunnies up top. ;)