30-Minute Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet

If you’re new to cooking with cabbage (or skeptical that you’ll like it), I encourage you to give this skillet dinner a try. Once you watch the crunchy crucifer turn tender, golden, and buttery alongside smoky sliced sausage and a sprinkle of caraway seeds, you’ll be hooked. Apples and mustard are classic accompaniments to both kielbasa and cabbage, so you’ll finish this 30-minute meal with a splash of sweet and tangy apple cider vinegar and whole-grain mustard.

Kielbasa is a mild Polish sausage infused with garlic, pimento, herbs, and smoke. It’s most often made from pork, though some brands use a combination of pork and beef. Look for it in the deli meats section of the grocery store where you’ll find eighteen-inch lengths of Kielbasa curved into the shape of a horseshoe.

Kielbasa, like other cured meats and sausages, can be eaten as part of the ketogenic diet because of its relatively high fat content (a good thing for keto-eaters!). Sausages can contain hidden sweeteners and fillers that contribute to a climbing carb count, so it’s important to check and compare the ingredient lists of the different brands carried in your grocery store.

With its very low carb count, cabbage is also a great choice for anyone watching their carbs and eating keto. It has a firm texture and a milder flavor than other crucifers like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. And unlike most leafy greens, it retains a pleasant crunch even after it’s cooked. Try it in everything from skillet dinners to stir-fries and slaws.