Pan-Fried Cabbage Side Dish

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you pan-fry cabbage for a side dish? Gather all your ingredients. If you can, use young cabbage and fresh new-crop carrots — though last season's vegetables will still make a tasty side. Wash all the vegetables first.

2. Step 2:

   

   Peel and dice the onion. The cut doesn't really affect the flavor, so you can just as easily slice it into rings or half-rings. To keep your eyes from stinging as you cut, rinse the onion and the knife under cold water. Your cutting board won't hold onto the oniony smell if you rub it with a slice of lemon before cutting.

3. Step 3:

   

   Peel the carrots and grate them on the coarse side of a box grater.

4. Step 4:

   

   Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet. Any oil works — corn, canola, sunflower, whatever you have. Fry the onion over medium heat for about 5 minutes until golden.

5. Step 5:

   

   Add the carrots to the onion. Fry everything together for about 7 more minutes. You want the vegetables to fry, not steam — that's what makes the dish so much tastier.

6. Step 6:

   

   Wash the cabbage well and remove the top 3 leaves — the outer leaves collect a lot of dirt and bacteria.

7. Step 7:

   

   Cut the cabbage however you like. I shredded it thin, but you can chop it coarser too. Add the cabbage to the skillet and stir.

8. Step 8:

   

   Add salt. This draws liquid out of the cabbage so it softens and cooks down in volume. If you like, add other herbs or seasonings: ground pepper, garlic powder, paprika — whatever suits you! Fresh herbs work nicely too: parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil. Just wash and dry them first.

9. Step 9:

   

   Cook for about 15 minutes covered. Then take off the lid and fry the vegetables well until they're deeply golden and slightly crisp.

10. Step 10:

    

    This cabbage makes a great side. In my opinion it goes wonderfully with smoked sausages, franks, and the like — but it works with poultry or meat too. Enjoy!