Recipe: Creole Louisiana Smothered Cabbage Recipe
I am often asked for my recipes after posting pictures. Here’s one for the cabbage I grew up eating in New Orleans. Folks in Louisiana do appreciate good food!
Bon appétit!
Creole Louisiana Cabbage
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbls olive oil
- 1 Tbl butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 strips of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lb ham, cubed
- 1 lb. Andouille sausage or another beef smoked sausage, coin-sliced
- 3-4 medium heads of cabbage, cored, cleaned and chopped
- 1 tsp Louisiana Creole Seasoning or to taste
- ½ tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 Tbs dried garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper
- 1 cup white rice, cooked
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Cornbread (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut and clean cabbage leaves.
- In a 6-quart pot, fry bacon. Add ham and sausage. Cook for about 15 minutes.
- Add oil and onion, and cook until the onion is brown. Reserve the meat and onion in a bowl.
- Using the same pot, add a little water, and reduce the heat to medium. Fill the pot with cabbage and cover it. Check often, stirring the cabbage until the cabbage wilts, adding water as needed.
- Continue adding more cabbage to fill the pot. Cabbage is cooked when all leaves are wilted and some turn light brown. Add Louisiana Creole Seasoning and cayenne.
- Return the meat to the pot, add garlic and butter. Do not cover. Instead, allow the remaining water in the pot to evaporate.
- Serve over white rice.

Bonjour Keila Im a Nola born French/Euro/Native American Creole. I mostly followed your recipe which is beaucoup bon, I didnt use the bacon and I also added some baby red potatoes and baby carrots to add more bulk. Merci beaucoup for sharing your Mother’s recipe. Au revoir.
Thanks for stopping by, Issy! I recall eating cabbage with potatoes. Adding my Eggplant Casserole recipe to my collection.
Keila
I put carrots and potatoes in my cabbage with onions. I also use smoked sausage, ham, garlic, bell pepper and a stick of butter. Yummy!
Hi Sharon,
Ah, I do recall my mother adding potatoes to her cabbage. I think I leave them out because I serve with either rice or cornbread. Never thought of adding carrots.
Thanks for stopping by!
Keila
Sorry I may have missed something in the instructions.
Except for the creole seasoning, the cayenne, the garlic & butter, when do I add all the other ingredients listed
(ie)paprika, oregano, thyme, onion powder etc?
Hi Peggy,
The ingredients, paprika, oregano, thyme, etc. is my recipe for the Louisiana Creole Seasoning. I make my own rather than use store bought. It will make more than you need to use in other recipes. Sorry for the confusion!
Louisiana Creole Seasoning
-1/2 teaspoon cayenne
-1 teaspoon paprika
-1/2 tsp dried oregano
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
-1 tbl dried garlic powder
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1/2 tsp onion powder
I was looking for this recipe! I am originally from NOLA. I thought it was just my weird family that served this over rice. Explaining this to northerners of Eastern European decent is difficult. I like my cabbage browned. I even do this for St. Pat’s day. Had Kapusta for Easter at a friends and it was very tart. Not my favorite.
Sandra,
I’m so happy you found the recipe. My mama made it only with ham and ham hocks, but I added the bacon for flavor. And in Louisiana, you know we eat everything over rice! LOL.
Keila
Really enjoyed all the different layers of flavors. Made as directed but with one can of Rotel. Just to add a little Creole flavor.
This looks delicious and I’m rarely excited about cabbage. 🙂
Yummy. Sounds like a great crowd-pleaser.