Sautéed cabbage doesn't need much seasoning, but salt and black pepper can leave it tasting flat. I started using lemon pepper instead, and one blend adds the acidity, pepper, salt, and savory notes I was adding one at a time.
Lemon pepper also works with the natural sweetness cabbage develops as it cooks. Add it while the cabbage is still in the pan and the seasoning gets coated in the cooking fat rather than sitting on top at the end.
Lemon Pepper Adds More Than Lemon and Pepper
Many lemon pepper blends contain salt along with lemon flavor and black pepper, while some also include garlic, onion, or other seasonings. Check the ingredient list before adding extra salt since the amount varies by brand.
Lemon gives cooked cabbage a sharp contrast without requiring fresh citrus. Black pepper brings heat, while garlic and onion in the blend can add another savory note.
Add It While the Cabbage Is Cooking
Remove the tough core from the cabbage and slice the leaves into ribbons. Heat oil or butter in a skillet, add the cabbage, and cook until it begins to soften and brown around some of the edges.
Sprinkle lemon pepper over the cabbage while it cooks, then toss to coat the leaves. Starting with a small amount makes sense since some blends contain far more salt than others. Taste before adding more.
Cooking the seasoning with the cabbage also spreads it through the dish instead of concentrating it on the surface.
Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes Can Take It Further
Lemon pepper can handle the seasoning on its own, but fresh garlic works well if you want another layer of flavor. Add minced garlic near the end of cooking so it doesn't burn before the cabbage is done.
Red pepper flakes are another option if you want heat. Their spice works against the lemon while the cabbage keeps the dish sweet and savory.
Serve the finished cabbage with chicken, pork, sausages, or another main dish, or put it inside a tortilla with your choice of toppings.
Salt and pepper still have their place, but lemon pepper does more work in a single shake. For sautéed cabbage, that small switch can turn a basic side into something that doesn't need much else.
Do you season sautéed cabbage with lemon pepper, or is there another blend you use instead of plain salt and pepper?
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