Fried Cabbage Recipe

—Denzel Mitchell, Jr. is the farmer in Amy Sherald’s ‘A God Blessed Land (Empire of Dirt)’, on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art through April 5. Denzel is the Executive Director of the Farm Alliance of Baltimore. 

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Ingredients:

• 1 head of cabbage (chopped or shredded)   

• 1 large onion (sliced)

• 1–2 sweet peppers (sliced)

• 2 stalks celery (sliced)

• 3–4 cloves garlic (chopped)

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1 tsp dried chili flakes, preferably Baltimore Fish pepper (adjust for heat)

• 1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

• Salt to taste

• Oil 

Instructions:

1. Sauté the aromatics: Heat 2 Tbsp oil or butter in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions, peppers, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until the onions are translucent and the edges start to brown.

2. Add garlic and spice: Stir in the chopped garlic and chili flakes. Cook for just 1 minute until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic).

3. Fry the cabbage: Add the cabbage to the skillet in batches if necessary. Stir well to coat with the oil and aromatics.

4. Season: Sprinkle in the salt and sugar. The sugar helps balance the heat of the chili and the tang of the vinegar while aiding in caramelization.

5. Cook down: Continue to fry, stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes. You want the cabbage to be tender but still have a slight bite.

6. The finish: Just before taking it off the heat, pour in the vinegar. Stir rapidly as it sizzles; this "deglazes" the pan and brightens all the flavors.

7. Serve: Taste and add more salt or chili flakes if needed. Serve hot.