Smothered Cabbage

Description

This down-home dish is a family favorite. The addition of a ham hock and pork shank add richness and a depth of flavor that can’t be beaten. It’s perfect for a holiday or everyday meal, and leftovers freeze well.

Ingredients

  • 4 quarts water
  • 1 medium ham hock
  • 1 large pork shank
  • 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
  • 1 large head cabbage – washed, cored, quartered, and cut into 2-inch slices
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 ½ cups chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Combine water
  2. ham hock
  3. and pork shank in a large pot. Bring to a boil
  4. reduce heat
  5. and simmer until meat is cooked through
  6. about 2 hours. Drain and set meat aside to cool to room temperature
  7. about 20 minutes.
  8. Remove meat from pork shank
  9. chop into bite-sized pieces
  10. and place in a bowl. Remove skin and meat from ham hock
  11. chop into very small pieces
  12. and add to the bowl
  13. omitting skin if you prefer.
  14. Heat bacon drippings in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until hot
  15. but not smoking. Add 1/4 of the cabbage to the hot skillet and saute until slightly wilted
  16. about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 of the meat mixture. Add another 1/4 of the cabbage
  17. cooking until slightly wilted
  18. about 3 minutes
  19. followed by another 1/4 of the meat mixture. Repeat until all cabbage and meat has been added. Season with salt and pepper. If mixture sticks to the skillet
  20. add 1 to 2 tablespoons chicken broth.
  21. Slowly add remaining chicken broth to the cabbage-meat mixture in the skillet
  22. give it a good stir
  23. and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until cabbage is tender
  24. 30 to 45 minutes.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 3 hrs

Total Time: 3 hrs 35 mins

Servings: 8

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