Ingredient
Amount
✅ Smoked sausage or kielbasa
1 lb, sliced into ½-inch rounds
✅ Green cabbage
1 medium head, chopped (about 6–7 cups)
✅ Yellow onion
1 large, chopped
✅ Garlic
3 cloves, minced
✅ Chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup
✅ Tomato sauce (optional)
½ cup (adds richness)
✅ Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 tbsp (brightens flavor)
✅ Caraway seeds (optional)
½ tsp (classic Eastern European touch)
✅ Salt & black pepper
To taste
✅ Olive oil
1 tsp (for browning, if desired)
📌 Note: Smoked sausage is already cooked — this is about warming and infusing flavor.
🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Sausage (Optional but Recommended)
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add sausage slices and sear for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned.
Transfer to slow cooker.
💡 Why brown? Deepens flavor and texture — but skip it to save time.
Step 2: Layer Everything
In your slow cooker, layer:
Onions
Garlic
Cabbage
Sausage slices
Pour broth (and tomato sauce, if using) over the top
Sprinkle with vinegar, caraway seeds, salt, and pepper
🥢 No need to stir — the steam will cook it all evenly.
