Just a few ingredients and so easy to make, this recipe for Sautéed (or Fried) Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon is absolutely tasty! You can make this with either vegetable or both and your dish would always come out delicious. Perfect for those on the low-carb diet but we always serve this with rice!
In the Philippines, sautéed or stir-fried cabbage and/or chayote squash is pretty common. You would often find this dish (whether with just cabbage or chayote or a combo of the two) in office or school cafeterias or canteens.
In fact, I often ordered this at the cafeteria when I worked for the Philippine Supreme Court. It’s such a simple dish that packs a lot of flavors and also very cheap. Perhaps that’s why it’s so popular.
Traditionally, the sautéed cabbage and chayote would be accompanied by fried pieces of pork belly or ground pork, not with bacon. It is also seasoned with either soy sauce or fish sauce or a combo of the two. The seasoning bring this humble dish to another level!
In this particular version, I decided to make a fusion of the American or southern version that uses bacon cuts for flavoring but with extra seasoning from Asia’s favorite condiments soy sauce and fish sauce! That is a lot of flavor – just right there!
Since I am making this somewhat Asian too, I decided to add the chayote squash because we often use this for cooking in the Philippines. This particular squash is not hard to find and not really exotic. I get it from the Asian store as I often go there but you can find this in Walmart or other big grocery stores and may be ordered online via Amazon, too.
Make sure to watch out for it when you’re grocery shopping! Once you’ve cooked with it it would become a staple in your house because it pretty much absorbs the flavor of whatever you cook with it. That makes it such a versatile ingredient.
I even saw an apple pie made with chayote instead! Wow, I gotta try that!
Can I just make this stir-fry dish with Cabbage only?
Certainly! You can opt to just cook this stir-fry dish with just the cabbage or chayote or vice versa! Because it’s the same seasonings, you’d still be able to make a delicious dish either way.
What can I serve with this Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon?
Because this is essentially a very low-carb dish, then if you are in that diet you can serve this with something like a faux mashed potato (made with cauliflower) or with cauliflower rice! If you’re not into this low-carb diet, please serve it with rice – freshly cooked or fried!
Is this Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon dry or saucy?
In the Philippines, we always cook it with a little liquid so it’s not completely dried when cooked. Making it saucy, is up to you. You can opt to add a little water to have some sauce to drizzle over your rice or simple cook it dry.
Do I need to use soy sauce or fish sauce to flavor this Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon?
I highly recommend it because it adds another layer of flavor apart from the bacon. But if you don’t have it hand or don’t wish to use it, simply season with regular salt adjusted to your taste preference.
What are the ingredients for Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon?
- 6 slices of bacon – chopped into smaller pieces
- 4 cloves of garlic – peeled and crushed
- 1 onion or large shallot – peeled and chopped
- 1 cabbage – chopped or shredded. I like using jaroma cabbage for this as it’s softer and cooks quicker but regular green cabbage should work well, too.
- 1 chayote squash – peeled and sliced diagonally. This squash may be found in big grocery stores (like Walmart) or in Asian stores and may also be ordered online.
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce (or Fish Sauce) – you can use either or both. Don’t fancy either – simply use salt and adjust to taste.
- A little water – optional, if you like a saucier dish.
- A few drops of Sesame Oil – optional but it adds another layer of flavor!
How do you make Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon?
- Place the bacon pieces in a large skillet. Heat to medium and cook until they begin to render their fat. Add the garlic and cook until the bacon is crispy. You may remove the bacon at this point (if you prefer them crispy). Add the onions and saute until it begins to soften.
- Add the chayote squash and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add the cabbage. You can also add a bit of water at this point if you like some liquid with it. Season with soy sauce or fish sauce (or a combo). Stir then cover and cook on low for 8-10 minutes or until the veggies are tender but not mushy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Turn off heat and drizzle with a few drops of sesame oil (if using). Mix the crispy bacon in and garnish a few pieces on top.
- Transfer to a plate and serve right away!
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Sautéed Cabbage and Chayote with Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, chopped into smaller pieces
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1 onion or large shallot, peeled and chopped
- 1 cabbage, chopped or shredded. I like using jaroma cabbage for this as it's softer and cooks quicker but regular green cabbage should work well, too.
- 1 chayote squash, peeled and sliced diagonally. This squash may be found in big grocery stores like Walmart or in Asian stores and may also be ordered online.
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or fish sauce, you can use either or both. Don't fancy either – simply use salt and adjust to taste.
- 2 tbsp water, or as needed optional, if you like a saucier dish.
- A few drops of sesame oil, optional, but it adds another layer of flavor!
Instructions
- Place the bacon pieces in a large skillet. Heat to medium and cook until they begin to render their fat. Add the garlic and cook until the bacon is crispy. You may remove the bacon at this point (if you prefer them crispy). Add the onions and saute until it begins to soften.
- Add the chayote squash and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add the cabbage. You can also add a bit of water at this point if you like some liquid with it. Season with soy sauce or fish sauce (or a combo). Stir then cover and cook on low for 8-10 minutes or until the veggies are tender but not mushy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Turn off heat and drizzle with a few drops of sesame oil (if using). Mix the crispy bacon in and garnish a few pieces on top.
- Transfer to a plate and serve right away!
Nutrition
Last updated on November 6th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
I got a chayote in my CSA box and had no idea what to do with it. This was so easy and delicious! I added some ginger and used ponzu instead of soy sauce. Also mixed in a little chili crisp for a bit of heat. Loved it!
Author
I’m glad you found this recipe and was able to adapt it to your needs! Yay! Thank you for letting us know!