Káposztás Tészta (Pasta with Cabbage)
A comforting and simple Hungarian dish featuring pasta tossed with slowly cooked, caramelized cabbage, often enhanced with bacon or onions. It can be prepared as a savory or sweet dish.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Egg noodles(medium square or bow tie, or broken lasagna/pappardelle noodles)
- 1 large head Cabbage(about 2.5 lbs, cored and shredded or finely chopped)
- 2 medium Yellow onion(finely chopped)
- 1 clove Garlic(minced)
- 200 g Bacon(diced (optional, for savory version))
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Sugar(for sweet version, or to aid caramelization)
- 1 tbsp Salt(plus more to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, plus more to taste)
- 1 cup Vegetable broth(optional, for moisture)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
If using bacon, cook it in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pan. If not using bacon, heat olive oil in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- 2
Add chopped onions to the pan and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Add the shredded cabbage to the pan. If making the sweet version, sprinkle sugar over the cabbage. Stir well. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30-40 minutes, until the cabbage is very tender and lightly browned and caramelized. Add vegetable broth if the mixture seems too dry.
- 4
While the cabbage cooks, prepare the pasta according to package directions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain well.
- 5
Add the drained pasta to the cabbage mixture. Toss to combine thoroughly. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If you used bacon, stir most of it in now, reserving some for garnish.
- 6
Serve hot, garnished with remaining bacon bits and an extra grind of black pepper. For the sweet version, a dusting of powdered sugar can be added.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a deeper flavor, ensure the cabbage is well-browned.
- ✓If you don't have bacon, a good quality olive oil or butter can be used.
- ✓This dish can be made vegetarian by omitting the bacon and using olive oil or butter.
🔄 Variations
- Sweet version: Omit bacon, add 1 tbsp sugar to the cabbage while cooking, and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Savory version: Add crumbled bacon or diced kolbász (Hungarian sausage) for extra flavor.
- Add sautéed mushrooms or a pinch of caraway seeds for a different flavor profile.