Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable. It can be prepared in many ways, but one of my favorite ways is fried with sausage. Sausage gives it a unique flavor and adds another element to this dish.

Fried Cabbage with Smoked Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 medium head of cabbage, chopped
• 1 pound smoked sausage (like kielbasa), sliced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: red pepper flakes for heat

Instructions:

2. Slice sausage into ½-inch rounds
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat
4. Add sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes
5. Remove sausage and set aside
6. In the same pan, add butter and onions
7. Cook onions until softened, about 5 minutes
8. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute
9. Add chopped cabbage
10. Season with salt and pepper
11. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender but still slightly crisp
12. Return sausage to pan
13. Cook another 2-3 minutes to heat through
14. Taste and adjust seasonings

Cooking tips:

• Don’t overcook the cabbage – it should still have some bite
• The sausage drippings add great flavor to the cabbage
• You can add a splash of chicken broth if the pan gets too dry
• This dish can be made vegetarian without the sausage, can add other options like tofu, extra vegetables, and meatless options.