Description
A flavorful and hearty Italian-inspired skillet dish combining crispy pancetta, tender green cabbage, spicy Calabrian peppers, and creamy cannellini beans, all cooked together with aromatic fennel seeds and caramelized tomato paste for a rich, comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oils
- ¼ lb pancetta, chopped
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 head green cabbage, halved and sliced
Flavorings
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon Calabrian peppers
- 2 tablespoon fennel seed
- ½ cup white wine
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Other
- 1 can (about 15 oz) cannellini beans, drained
Instructions
- Cook the Pancetta: Place the chopped pancetta in a cold Dutch oven and heat over medium. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 8 minutes once hot. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pot.
- Char the Onions and Sauté Aromatics: Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot. Add the diced onions but do not stir immediately; let sit undisturbed for 3 minutes to develop a slight brown char. Stir onions, then add minced garlic and fennel seeds. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Caramelize Tomato Paste and Add Peppers: Push onion mixture to the sides, creating a space in the center. Add tomato paste directly to the hot pan surface and let caramelize 2 minutes without stirring. Mix tomato paste with onions and garlic, then add Calabrian peppers and combine thoroughly.
- Deglaze and Cook Cabbage: Pour white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add sliced cabbage, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. If no liquid is present, add ¼ cup water to prevent sticking.
- Finish Cooking Cabbage: Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over cabbage, season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook an additional 5 minutes until fork-tender.
- Combine Beans and Pancetta: Stir in drained cannellini beans and reserved pancetta. Let sit covered for 5 minutes to heat through. Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
- Char the onions first: Allowing the onions to develop a slight brown char adds a sweet, smoky depth of flavor.
- Caramelize the tomato paste: Cooking tomato paste directly on the hot surface enhances its sweetness and flavor complexity.
- Deglaze the pan: Adding white wine lifts flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan, enriching the dish.
- Adjust cabbage cooking time: Depending on cabbage size and thickness, cooking time may need to be extended until tender.
Keywords: Italian cabbage skillet, pancetta and beans, Calabrian peppers recipe, cannellini beans dish, fennel seed skillet, easy Italian dinner