Cabbage noodles is the kind of brutally simple food I’m almost ashamed to talk about here. But there’s no time for shame when you’re on deadline. I learned that from Hunter Thompson.
My shame was somewhat eased when googling showed me lots of posted recipes. If your ancestry is from central Europe where cabbage is one of the essential foods, it’s very likely Grandma served something a lot like this, possibly called by the Polish name Haluski.
Or your Chinese Grandma might call it chow fun. When I google chow fun I see restaurant-style recipes, but at my local noodle house it’s wide egg noodles, vegetables including cabbage, and optional meat on top. Same as this, just add soy sauce.
It’s not something I’d ever serve to guests, but I eat it frequently.
You’ll need a very big deep skillet or wok.
Cabbage Noodles (Haluski)
this is copied from allrecipes, I’ll mention what I do and some of the possible variations. Serves 4.
8 oz egg noodles
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
½ lb bacon
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium head cabbage, cored and chopped
- Cook the noodles in boiling water until done al dente, 5 minutes or so. Drain, return to pot, stir with a little olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
- Meanwhile, place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Place the onion into the skillet with the bacon grease, and cook and stir over medium heat until the onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cabbage, and cook and stir until wilted, about 5 minutes. Chop the bacon, add it to the skillet, and cook until the cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the noodles, and continue cooking just until heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper (the bacon might be enough salt but a generous amount of black pepper is good.)
I don’t worry about crisp bacon. I dice the bacon first, after it’s half-cooked add the onions and then cabbage as described.
I’m not sure I have a skillet big enough to cook the recipe as described. If you don’t either, instead of adding the noodles to the already full skillet, combine the ingredients in a big roasting pan (if you have that) and bake in the oven for maybe 30 minutes.
Mushrooms are a very good addition. Or you can give it a German/Austrian flavor by adding 1 teaspoon caraway seed while cooking and then some sour cream to finish.
What’s for dinner at your place? Please consider writing it up for WFD sometime soon! Message ninkasi23 if you can.