How to Cook Tender, Flavorful Cabbage with Smoked Turkey Tails

Cabbage is an underrated vegetable that can be transformed into a delicious and hearty side dish when cooked properly. Many people boil cabbage until it’s mushy and lose all the flavor. However, when you cook cabbage low and slow with smoked turkey tails, the results are amazing – tender, silky cabbage swimming in a smoky, meaty broth. This soul food style cabbage is a staple in Southern cooking that’s full of tradition and warmth. Once you learn how to cook cabbage with smoked turkey tails, you’ll never see this humble veggie the same way again!

Why Cook Cabbage with Smoked Turkey Tails?

Cabbage on its own can be rather bland and watery. But when you add cured, smoked turkey tails to the pot, it transforms through a flavor exchange during the long simmering process. The smokiness from the turkey infuses into the cabbage, while the meat soaks up all the seasoned cooking liquid. Here’s what each ingredient brings to the dish:

• Cabbage – Cabbage provides the base and bulk. Green cabbage is the most commonly used, but red cabbage also works

• Smoked Turkey Tails – The smoked turkey imparts a delicious smoky flavor and also thickens the cooking broth

• Onions – Sautéed onions add a savory depth of flavor.

• Garlic – Garlic amplifies the flavor and adds richness.

• Spices and Seasonings – Spices like cayenne, smoked paprika, thyme and bay leaves add complexity. Salt and pepper balance out the flavors.

Cooking the cabbage with the smoked turkey tails and aromatics creates a flavorful pot liquor that takes this simple side to the next level.

How to Choose Good Smoked Turkey Tails

When buying smoked turkey tails for cooking cabbage, look for:

• Meaty – Choose turkey tails that look plump and meaty, not thin and dried out. The more meat, the more flavor it will impart.

• Well-Cured – Look for turkey tails with an even dark pink/red color without dried edges. Properly cured means better flavor.

• Good Smokiness – Turkey tails should have a nice smoky aroma. The more smoke flavor, the more it will season the cabbage.

• Unbroken Skin – Avoid turkey tails with cracked or peeling skin, which indicates mishandling. Intact skin helps keep moisture and flavor in.

Buying quality smoked turkey tails ensures your cabbage cooks up with the best smoky flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking cabbage with smoked turkey tails is simple, but does take some time. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Ingredients:

• 1 small head green cabbage, cored and chopped
• 3 smoked turkey tails
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Rinse the chopped cabbage under cold water and set aside.
2. Place the turkey tails in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Remove turkey tails from pot and set aside. Reserve 3 cups of the cooking liquid.
4. In the same pot, sauté onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
5. Add reserved turkey tail cooking liquid, bay leaves, paprika, cayenne, thyme and season with salt and pepper.
6. Add chopped cabbage and smoked turkey tails to pot and stir to combine.
7. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 mins to 1 hour, until cabbage is very tender.
8. Remove turkey tails and bay leaves. Shred turkey tail meat and return to pot.
9. Adjust seasonings to taste. Enjoy!

Simmering the smoked turkey tails in the broth infuses the cabbage with smoky flavor. Be sure to cook until the cabbage is fall-apart tender. The longer it cooks, the better it gets!

For even more flavor, try adding diced potatoes, carrots or other veggies to the pot. Cabbage cooked with smoked turkey tails makes for perfect old-fashioned soul food. This simple, inexpensive ingredients creates a comforting Southern dish full of smoky depth you’ll crave again and again.