Serves a Crowd

Warm Red Cabbage with Gorgonzola and Bacon

by:
October  6, 2013
4.8
4 Ratings
  • Makes 6 to 8 servings
Author Notes

I brought this dish to a neighbor’s Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago. It’s a crunchy, tart, and autumnal counterpoint to the richness of the “traditional” Thanksgiving feast. Since then we’ve discovered how well it accompanies pork chops and roasts -- and not bad as a main dish for Sunday night supper! —ChefJune

Test Kitchen Notes

This recipe went great with grilled pork tenderloin! I loved the crunchy texture, which was a nice departure from the typical softer version. I would definitely make this again, though I would halve the bacon and gorgonzola because I felt it overpowered the cabbage and dressing. It should be noted that my father, a red cabbage enthusiast, thought it was perfect and would not change a thing. —EmilyS1220

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound thick-cut smoked bacon (I use Nueske’s)
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I use a fruity Spanish one)
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar (I like Heinz)
  • 2 tablespoons clover honey, warmed
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon each coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 cups finely shredded red cabbage (you’ll need a good-sized head)
  • 5 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (not dolce)
Directions
  1. In a large sauté pan, brown and crisp bacon. Drain on paper towels. Roughly chop bacon and set aside. Pour off 1/4 cup bacon fat and whisk together with the olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
  2. Save remaining bacon fat for another use.
  3. Clean the sauté pan. Pour the dressing into the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add cabbage. Stir and toss until just warmed through. Add bacon and toss to combine. Put everything into a warmed serving dish and top with the crumbled gorgonzola.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

30+ years a chef, educator, writer, consultant, "winie," travel guide/coordinator

1 Review

Pegeen October 24, 2013
What a great fall side. Looking forward to this as duet with pork chops. Thank you!