Easy Braised Cabbage with Sausage (video)
My mom’s recipe for quick and easy braised cabbage stir-fry with sausage. It’s a great dish for lunch or dinner! And, you can have this one-pan dish ready in no time at all! It’s made with a combination of smoky sausage, cabbage, pepper, zucchini, carrots, onion, garlic, and dill. This Ukrainian dinner recipe is a favorite of mine! You can also add any of your favorite vegetables, and make it with pork, chicken, beef, or vegetarian without any sausage.
Watch my Braised Cabbage Video Tutorial
Watch my YouTube braised cabbage video tutorial for step-by-step instructions for making this Ukrainian dinner dish at home. Want to stay up to date on the latest recipe posts? Make sure to subscribe to my website email list and my YouTube channel and turn on notifications!
Ingredients for This Easy Dish
Here are some tips and info for the main ingredients you’ll need. Find the full list in the printable recipe card below.
- Cabbage: I like to use regular green cabbage but purple cabbage or napa cabbage will also work well.
- Sausage: my favorite option is smoky Polish sausage. You can also make this dish with cubed chicken thigh, pork tenderloin, or beef.
- Butter: frying the vegetables in salted butter adds tons of great flavor!
- Fresh Dill: a must for any Ukrainian dinner recipe! This adds that quintessential Eastern European flavor!
- Zucchini, Peppers, Onion, Carrots, Garlic
- Cauliflower & Broccoli: you can use a combination of both, or just one of each.
Supplies & Tools
Need some supplies or tools to make this braised cabbage at home? Shop my Amazon Affiliate Links for the items I use in my kitchen. Using these links won’t cost you extra and I’ll earn a small commission.
- Epicurean cutting boards: these come in a variety of sizes, they’re dishwasher-safe, and they won’t dull your knives!
- Wusthof Ikon Chef’s Knife: I’ve had a set of these knives for 8 years and I love them!
- Mandoline Slicer: make quick work of slicing vegetables and fruits with this slicer. I love the stainless-steel design!
- Large Braising Pan: the copper pan I used in my video isn’t available online, but this large roasting pan from Williams Sonoma is similar.
- Nesting Glass Mixing Bowls: these will keep you organized in the kitchen.
What Type of Vegetables to Use
I love this braised cabbage with sausage recipe because it can quite versatile! I usually make it at the end of the week with the vegetables I have leftover from my previous recipes. Here are some of the vegetables you can use:
- Mushrooms: any variety will work great! Fry the mushrooms separately, just like the zucchini and sausage, then add make in at the end.
- Asparagus: cut it into small segments and add with the broccoli
- Eggplant: fry the eggplant just like you would the zucchini.
- Green beans
- Cooked corn
- Chilis or other hot peppers
- Sauerkraut: add about ½ cup to 1 cup of fermented cabbage for a slightly different flavor profile.
Preparing the Cabbage & Veggies
You’ll want to start this recipe by chopping and cutting all the ingredients. I like to start with the cabbage. It will look like you have a lot of cabbage, but just remember that it will wilt down!
- Using a sharp knife, cut the cabbage into quarters, then cut out and discard the hard, fibrous core.
- Using a sharp knife, or a mandoline slice, shred the cabbage into thin strips and place the sliced cabbage into a large mixing bowl.
- Next, chop the zucchini into small pieces. Cube the peel pepper; dice the onion; slice the carrots; mince the garlic. I like to cut the broccoli and cauliflower florets into small pieces, too.
How to Make Braised Cabbage with Sausage
Here’s how to make this easy, one-pan Ukrainian cabbage dish.
- Preheat a large, deep saute pan over medium-high heat. Add in the sliced sausage (or chicken, pork, beef). Fry the sausage for about 5 to 7 minutes until it’s golden brown. If you’re using meat, season the meat with salt and pepper and fry until thoroughly cooked.
- Remove the sausage from the pan and add in a few tablespoons of butter. Into the melted butter, add in the zucchini. Fry the zucchini for 6 to 8 minutes, until it’s golden, then season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Remove the zucchini from the pan and add more butter, if needed. Add in the onion, carrots and pepper. Saute the mixture for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Next, add in the garlic, paprika, ground black pepper, and coriander, then cook for another minute.
- Layer the broccoli and cauliflower over the pepper mixture, then add on the shredded cabbage. Season the cabbage with salt, then add in the water and close the lid.
- Cook the cabbage for about 5 minutes, then toss everything together using a large spoon. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times, until the cabbage is softened and cooked.
- Return the sausage and the zucchini into the pan and add the chopped dill. Toss everything together and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this dish right away – it’s best when served hot or warm. I like to enjoy it with a side of toasted bread, or you can even add it on top of pasta or rice. This braised cabbage with sausage tastes great as a side dish with grilled chicken, too!
Need to reheat some leftovers? Do so in a large frying pan for best tasting results.
Get my Cookbook!
Looking for more Ukrainian recipes? Make sure to check out my cookbook, Beyond Borscht, for all the best recipes! This is a collection of 75 recipes, including appetizers, salads, soups, main entrees, and desserts. It’s all the delicious dishes I grew up enjoying, now in a beautiful cookbook. Click HERE for the order links.
More Recipes!
Enjoy this easy and delicious one-pan dinner idea? Check out some of my other recipes you’re sure to enjoy!
- Turkey Cabbage Rolls: an Eastern European favorite! Cabbage rolls filled with turkey and rice, then cooked in a creamy carrot and tomato sauce!
- Braised Cabbage Piroshki: my grandmother’s recipe for the best piroshki! These are deep-fried yeast dough hand pies filled with a delicious, braised cabbage filling.
- Cucumber Cabbage Salad: this refreshing cabbage salad is perfect year-round and it’s great as a side dish for grilled chicken.
- Classic Beef Borscht: an iconic Ukrainian recipe! This hearty beet, beef and cabbage soup is the ultimate comfort food.
- Easy Chicken Plov (Rice Pilaf): another easy, one-pan dinner idea! Delicious chicken rice pilaf with garlic and carrots. One of my favorites!
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Easy Braised Cabbage with Sausage (video)
Ingredients
- 1 small head of green cabbage
- 3 tbsp butter
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 links Polish sausage, (or 1 pound chicken thigh, pork tenderloin, beef steak)
- 1 large zucchini, sliced
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 1 large sweet red bell pepper, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, 1/2 head
- 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets, 1/2 head
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill
Other Vegetable Options:
Mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant, corn, green beans, sauerkraut
Instructions
Preparing the Veggies:
- Using a sharp knife, cut the cabbage into quarters, then cut out and discard the hard, fibrous core.
- Using a sharp knife, or a mandoline slice, shred the cabbage into thin strips and place the sliced cabbage into a large mixing bowl.
- Next, chop the zucchini into small pieces. Cube the peel pepper; dice the onion; slice the carrots; mince the garlic. I like to cut the broccoli and cauliflower florets into small pieces, too.
Making Braised Cabbage:
- Preheat a large, deep sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add in the sliced sausage (or chicken, pork, beef). Fry the sausage for about 5 to 7 minutes until it’s golden brown. If you’re using meat, season the meat with salt and pepper and fry until thoroughly cooked.
- Remove the sausage from the pan and add in a few tablespoons of butter. Into the melted butter, add in the zucchini. Fry the zucchini for 6 to 8 minutes, until it’s golden, then season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Remove the zucchini from the pan and add more butter, if needed. Add in the onion, carrots and pepper. Sauté the mixture for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Next, add in the garlic, paprika, ground black pepper, and coriander, then cook for another minute.
- Layer the broccoli and cauliflower over the pepper mixture, then add on the shredded cabbage. Season the cabbage with salt, then add in the water and close the lid.
- Cook the cabbage for about 5 minutes, then toss everything together using a large spoon. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times, until the cabbage is softened and cooked.
- Return the sausage and the zucchini into the pan and add the chopped dill. Toss everything together and enjoy!
