Savoy cabbage with bacon and apple in a cider and mustard cream sauce. A beautiful vegetable side dish and a great accompaniment to roast pork or chicken! Full of flavour and the ideal way to elevate the Sunday roast.
Savoy cabbage with bacon is a classic combination and one I happen to love. To this vegetable side dish of fried cabbage with bacon I've added apple, cider and mustard, finishing the dish off with a little cream. This is a rich side dish, but one that is packed full of flavour. Furthermore, it's a really quick dish to prepare and cook.
I do believe cabbage is a much maligned vegetable, due in no small part I suspect to over-cooked, limp white cabbage, often associated with bad school dinners. Nevertheless, when cooked properly, I have to say it's easily one of my favourite vegetables to eat.
I've never had a problem with my greens, even as a child. I suspect that is down to me growing up with parents who were pretty much self-sufficient when it came to growing their own veg.
Our garden was full pretty much all year round, and there were always brassicas growing: spring cabbage; savoy cabbage; kales and brussel sprouts. You name it my parents probably grew it!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE:
- Quick to prepare this creamed cabbage with bacon dish can be on the table in just over 30 minutes.
- A great make ahead dish prepare earlier in the day and warm up gently when you are ready to serve.
- Feed a crowd as this recipe can be easily double up depending on numbers.
- A great combination of flavours that work really well together.
Recipe ingredients & variations:
- Smoked streaky bacon adds wonderful flavour to this creamed cabbage with bacon side. You could also use smoked bacon lardons, pancetta or unsmoked bacon if you prefer.
- Onion adds flavour to the creamy mustard sauce, you can use a yellow, brown or red onion, or even banana shallots.
- Savoy cabbage is shredded through the dish. Savoy cabbage with bacon is a great combination as it is a cabbage with the good bite to it. You can substitute any other green cabbage if you prefer, just adjust the cooking time and take care not to over cook it.
- Granny Smith apples are used in the dish as they keep their shape and are not overly sweet. However, use whatever apples you can get your hands on. But do try and use a firm crisp apple variety.
- Dry cider flavours the sauce, use any variety. I tend not to use too sweet a cider as the dish has enough sweetness with the onions and apple.
- Double cream is added to finish the sauce leaving you with a delicious creamed cabbage with bacon dish. You could also use single cream or substitute the cream for creme fraiche.
- Wholegrain mustard adds flavour and texture to the creamy sauce. If you don't have wholegrain mustard, a good Dijon mustard will also taste delicious in the dish.
How to serve braised cabbage with bacon?
I've made this braised cabbage with bacon side dish for years, and I think it goes really well with roast pork and chicken. However, if you don't have time quickly grilled pork chop or chicken supreme will work just as well and that's how I serve this dish mid week.
If you want perfection and have a little more time on your hands it pairs beautifully with the weekends roasts:
- Slow Roast Pork Belly
- Roast Leg or Pork Stuffed with Bacon & Cranberries
- Pork Wrapped in Bacon with Sage
It is worth mentioning however, that braised cabbage with bacon is a rich side. For that reason we would recommend sticking with a simple potato side, something like a Easy Hasselback Potato or Crispy Roast Potato.
Useful hints & tips:
- Take care not to overcook the cabbage as overcooked cabbage becomes soggy and is reminiscent of school dinner - nobody will thank you for that!
- For vegetarian diners simply remove the bacon from this simple creamed cabbage side dish.
- To make a dairy free cabbage side, replace the butter and cream in this dish with dairy free alternatives.
- Allergy advice: gluten free, egg free, soya free, peanut free and nut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
This cabbage and bacon recipe is really easy to prepare ahead of time. Simply cook the dish then cover the pan with a lid and set it aside to cool. Simply heat the vegetables up gently when you are ready to serve.
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Additional recipe suggestions:
If you like this recipe then try some of our other vegetable side dishes:
- Easy Honey Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Chestnuts
- Braised Red Cabbage
- Creamed Brussel Sprouts
- Potato Pave
- Potato & Cheese Croquettes
- Creamy Mustard Mash
For all my favourite vegetable recipes in one place, check our my 12 Best Vegetable Side Dishes post.
Savoy Cabbage with Bacon, Apple & Cider
Ingredients
- 50 g butter
- 8 rashers smoked streaky bacon (cut into thin strips)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 savoy cabbage (shredded)
- 2 green Granny Smith apples (peeled, core removed and diced)
- 250 ml dry cider
- 250 ml double cream
- 2 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Place the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the strips of streaky bacon and saute until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan.
- Add the onion to the frying pan and saute gently over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Next add the crushed garlic, savoy cabbage and apple to the pan and saute for a further 3 minutes.
- Pour the cider into the mixture, turn up the heat to medium high and reduce the cider by half.
- Add the bacon back into the pan, along with the wholegrain mustard and give it a good stir through to combine. Finally add the cream, mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •
Janice says
Absolutely delicious. The bacon really brings out the flavour of the cabbage.
Lesley says
Thank you Janice, I couldn't agree more, it's a great flavour combination. Lesley x