Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Cook the Bacon: Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon strips and cook until crispy. Once the bacon is done, remove it from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave about two tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan.
Sauté the Onion: In the same pan, add the diced onion and sauté for about 2-3 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add Garlic and Seasonings: Next, toss in the minced garlic, stone ground mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and let it cook for about a minute, just long enough for the garlic to become fragrant.
Cook the Cabbage: Add the chopped cabbage to the pan and stir it into the seasonings. Cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cabbage will soften, and some of it will caramelize at the edges, which is exactly what you want.
Finish with Bacon: Once the cabbage is tender and slightly golden, stir the crispy bacon back into the pan. Give it a final toss to combine everything, and it’s ready to serve.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

6 pieces of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons stone ground mustard (or Dijon mustard)
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 head of cabbage, sliced and chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:

Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set it aside, leaving about two tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
Sauté the Onion: Add the diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft.
Add Garlic and Seasonings: Stir in the garlic, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
Cook the Cabbage: Add the sliced cabbage and stir everything together. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is soft and slightly caramelized.
Add the Bacon: Stir the crispy bacon back into the cabbage and cook for another minute. Serve warm and enjoy!
Tips for Making Perfect Fried Cabbage
Adjust the Heat: If you like your cabbage with a bit more kick, feel free to add some red pepper flakes or a little extra smoked paprika.
Add Sweetness: For a sweet twist, you can drizzle a little honey over the cabbage while it’s cooking. A touch of coconut sugar works well, too.
Try Different Meats: This dish is also great with some added sausage. Smoked sausage or kielbasa would both be delicious options.