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Florida Swamp Cabbage is one of the recipes that has a rather jarring name but is actually quite deceiving. This Sunshine State dish has cabbage but hearts of palm are the star alongside a side cast of meaty bacon and an array of spices.
What is Florida Swamp Cabbage?
When one says swamp, the image that comes to mind is one of mosquito-and-alligator-infested waters draped in the shadow of moss-covered trees. Luckily, this recipe has none of that. This regional dish utilizes hearts of palm to create a thick and meaty stew with a bit of a spiced-Cajun kick of flavor. The sabal palm is the state tree of Florida and is used in a variety of recipes. It can be found in salads as well as deep-fried. Here, the palm is cooked down until super tender.
The Cajun trinity works alongside bacon to create a super flavorful base. Everglades seasoning is a specific regional Florida spice company, but you can simply substitute it with Cajun seasoning. The cabbage, crushed tomatoes, hearts of palm, and bay leaf are added and simmered until the hearts of palm are cooked through and the cabbage is wilted.
Served straight from the pot, this Florida Swamp Cabbage is the perfect side to any dinner.
It’s savory but not reserved. The chili flakes and the Cajun seasoning give a great level of heat that brightens up the cooked-down meat, cabbage, and palm.
Bacon adds that perfect bit of saltiness to round out all of the flavors. It’s a great dish to serve with grilled meat, barbecue, fried chicken, or country ham. Use it like you would collard greens in a meal. It has a great level of wilted but satisfying heartiness that only happens when you’re below the Mason-Dixon line.
Florida Swamp Cabbage
Ingredients
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons Everglades seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake, plus more to taste, if desired
- 1 medium green cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (14 oz each) cans hearts of palm, drained and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the onions, bell pepper, and celery to the pot and cook until softened and lightly brown, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, Everglades or Cajun seasoning, and red pepper flake, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring often.
- Stir in the cabbage, tomatoes, and bay leaf. Reduce heat and cook, covered, until cabbage is just becoming tender, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add hearts of palm, and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf and stir in apple cider vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes and Southern Living.