This easy recipe for sautéed cabbage is delicious. As the cabbage cooks in the pan, it wilts, turns tender, and becomes sweet. Cabbage may sound like a boring side, but this is one of our favorite vegetable recipes. White cabbage is our favorite for this, but other cabbage varieties will work. Keep in mind that Napa cabbage will release more moisture and won’t brown as nicely in the pan.
2 pounds white cabbage, core removed and shredded (10 cups)
1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or more to taste
Half of a lemon, cut into wedges
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage, garlic, red pepper flakes, and the salt. It might seem like too much cabbage for the pan, but as it cooks, the cabbage will wilt down.
Cook, stirring occasionally until the cabbage is tender and some of the cabbage begins to turn a light brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
Squeeze the juice from 2 lemon wedges over the cabbage. Taste then adjust with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice as needed.