I was thinking of recipe ideas for this blog the other day, when boom - a craving hit. It was perfect timing for this craving, too, as it was a craving for a meal I’ve never made myself, but grew up on. This meal is my mom’s specialty, and I’d lick my plate clean every dang time she made it. So, I got the recipe, made it tonight, and was full by the end of it since I kept tasting my creation and licking the mixing spoon. Low-carb, filling, full of delicious flavor, and overall healthy - why haven’t you made this yet?? Thank you, momma, for this featured dish!
What you’ll need:
•1/2 shredded/cut head of green cabbage
•1 pack polish kielbasa (find it in the deli section)
•1-2 yellow or sweet onions (I used 2 giant ones.. Because onions are life)
•1/2 package shredded carrots (or just eyeball them)
•3-5 cloves minced garlic
•Olive oil
•Salt/pepper
•Ketchup and/or dijon mustard (I used both, eyeballed amounts)
Dice up your onions, heat up a cast iron or dutch oven (I used the dutch oven) with olive oil, and sautée onions and carrots until softened (5-8 minutes). Add in 1/2 of your minced garlic for the last few minutes. Season as you stir and remove from pan when done. Cut up the kielbasa and, in the same pan, fry it up until slightly browned. Add remaining minced garlic when you do this.
Keep the kielbasa in the pan and add back the onion/carrot mixture, as well as about 1/4 of your cabbage. Turn up the heat, drizzle a bit more olive oil into the pan, and stir for about 3 minutes. Repeat this process until all of the cabbage is in the pan. Turn heat back down to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, for about 35-45 minutes or until completely softened. As you cook, drizzle in the ketchup and/or mustard for added flavor. I did this at around the 10 minute and 30 minutes marks!
(Note: To make it healthier/less sugary, you can substitute tomato paste or just fresh tomatoes for the ketchup, but this will change the dish’s flavor and you may need to up your use of seasonings)
I eat this as is, but it’s delicious with a side of potatoes, rice, or a fried egg as well :P Enjoy my nostalgia and childhood meal!