Split peas and cabbage, or kapusta z grochem (kah-POOSS-tah zih GRROH-hem) in Polish, is a traditional side dish at wigilia, the Christmas Eve dinner also known as the Star Supper.
Fresh shredded cabbage, sauerkraut, and a purée of cooked yellow split peas are combined to make this thick, slightly tangy dish.
While wigilia is a meatless meal, this dish, which is as much a starch as a vegetable, also can be served with a garnish of pork cracklings known as skwarki or fried bacon if you're not fasting.
Ingredients
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1 pound dried yellow split peas, rinsed and drained
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3 cups boiling water
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1 small head cabbage, shredded
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1 quart sauerkraut, undrained or drained (if desired, reserve some juice)
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3 cups water
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1 medium onion, finely chopped
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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Salt, to taste
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1/2 pound fried bacon, chopped, optional
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Combine peas and boiling water in a small saucepan.
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Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and continue boiling 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let soak 30 minutes.
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Bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes, or until cooked down into a purée, adding more water if necessary. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large pot or Dutch oven, place shredded cabbage, sauerkraut, and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 1 hour.
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While cabbage is cooking, sauté onion in butter until golden brown, but not burned. Set aside.
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Add cooked peas to cabbage mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add some kraut juice or vegetable broth if too dry.
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Add sautéed onions and mix well. Heat until warm throughout.
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Top with fried chopped bacon if desired.
Recipe Variation
- Optionally, sauté onion with chopped bacon, omitting the butter, until bacon is cooked through, but not crispy. Add to cabbage with cooked peas.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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380 | Calories |
5g | Fat |
67g | Carbs |
22g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 380 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 5g | 6% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 13% |
Cholesterol 10mg | 3% |
Sodium 968mg | 42% |
Total Carbohydrate 67g | 24% |
Dietary Fiber 27g | 97% |
Total Sugars 15g | |
Protein 22g | |
Vitamin C 100mg | 498% |
Calcium 179mg | 14% |
Iron 6mg | 33% |
Potassium 1277mg | 27% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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