How To Cook Cabbage

This is a basic way to make a cabbage side dish on your stove top. There are a lot of ways to make cabbage, but frying it up is my favorite homestyle technique. The horseradish and salad dressing in the recipe are completely optional, but these are things I've found to add the most taste and bring everyone back for seconds.

1. Add smoked sausage, cubed ham, or hamburger to turn this into a main dish.

2. Step 1: Chop Cabbage and Onion

   Remove the outer leaves from the cabbage head and discard them. Using a large knife, Cut around the core of the cabbage head on five sides - four around and the top. Discard the hard, white core. Chop the cabbage leaves into one inch pieces. Discard outer, thin onion skin and peel away the first layer. Cut off a bit of each end and discard, then chop into half inch pieces.

3. Chop that onion fast! If you're like me, the faster you chop and get your onion cooking, the less chance you have of having burning, teary eyes.

4. Step 2: Melt Margarine

   Measure margarine into a large frying pan on medium-high heat and let it melt.

5. Step 3: Add Onion

   Add onion and, if desired, creamy horseradish. Stir and saute until onions give off a pleasing aroma and are no longer hard and raw.

6. Step 4: Add Cabbage

   Add chopped cabbage to the onion mixture and stir as well as you can. This will look like a LOT of cabbage, and be hard to stir, but don't worry about it. The cabbage will cook down a lot and you can stir later.

7. Cabbage is low in calories and an excellent source of Vitamin C, Calcium, and Potassium.

8. Step 5: Add Water

   Add water to frying pan, until it covers about half an inch on the bottom. The amount varies with the size of your skillet

9. Step 6: Cover and Let Cook

   Cover your frying pan with its lid or - if you're like me and you don't have a lid that big - use a pizza-sized baking sheet. It may not quite fit, but put it on top of the cabbage anyway. It will fit soon. Let cook for about an hour, stirring every ten minutes. Add extra water as necessary.

10. Step 7: Uncover and Fry

    By this time, your cabbage is cooked down and smelling really good. Add buttermilk dressing now if desired, and some salt and pepper. Stir well and turn the heat down to medium, adding more water if needed. Stir every few minutes, letting the water cook down. When the cabbage starts to take on a golden tint and is melt-in-your-mouth tender, take the frying pan off the heat.

11. Now you know how to make a delicious and simple cabbage side dish that the whole family will enjoy. Not only is it good for you, but the horseradish and dressing give it a creamy, tasty quality that makes it a dinnertime favorite.