Description
This traditional Irish Bacon and Cabbage Recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish made with thick-cut bacon, fresh green cabbage, onion, and simple seasonings. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any hearty meal, it features tender cabbage simmered with savory bacon and mustard seeds in chicken broth, resulting in a savory side dish that pairs well with whole grain mustard.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 24 ounces thick-cut bacon
Vegetables
- 1 large green cabbage
- 1 large onion
Liquids and Seasonings
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Cut the bacon strips into 4 pieces each, separate them, and add to the pot. Stir and cook until the bacon is mostly cooked but not fully crispy, rendering its fat.
- Prepare vegetables: While the bacon cooks, peel the onion and cut it into 8 wedges. Cut the cabbage in half, remove the core, and then cut it into 12 wedges.
- Sauté onion: Add the onion wedges to the pot with the bacon and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion softens, stirring occasionally.
- Add cabbage and broth: Add the cabbage wedges, chicken broth, and mustard seeds to the pot. Stir to move the cabbage toward the bottom and the bacon pieces upward.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the thickest parts of the cabbage are tender.
- Season and serve: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, optionally with whole grain mustard on the side.
Notes
- Store leftover bacon and cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a large skillet to retain texture instead of using a microwave.
- For a vegetarian variation, substitute bacon with smoked tempeh and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Adjust seasoning by adding more mustard seeds or a pinch of ground black pepper for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 185 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
