Give Cabbage An Instant Breakfast Makeover With Just One Canned Ingredient

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Cabbage may not be among the vegetables that we would typically think of when it comes to breakfast, but there is one association this brassica has in the minds of many, and that's with corned beef, a pairing without which St. Patrick's Day simply wouldn't be the same. From this dish, it is a short leap to corned beef hash, which countless American diner-goers will agree absolutely is a breakfast food. So here's how you can give cabbage an instant breakfast makeover, with just one canned ingredient.

You're likely familiar with corned beef hash in two forms — the freshly, lovingly cooked variety you will find served up in diners across the nation, and the canned stuff you will find at your local grocery store. Diner-style corned beef hash is undoubtedly delicious, but it can also be complicated and time-consuming to prepare from scratch.  A decent canned version of this perennial favorite, such as Mary Kitchen Corned Beef Hash from Hormel, is just what you need to to produce a cabbage-spiked breakfast that won't take literal days to make. 

You'll find plenty of from-scratch recipes for corned beef hash and cabbage, and the neat thing about using this canned shortcut is how little some of them need to be adapted. You can prepare the cabbage in the same manner, likely in a skillet with a little oil, butter, or bacon fat. While the cabbage softens up, start cooking your canned corned beef hash in a separate pan, or even the air fryer, which will help this vintage breakfast get the texture it deserves. Once both elements of your meal are cooked to your satisfaction, you combine and stir thoroughly, cooking a little longer to allow the flavors to meld and deepen.

The simplicity of this breakfast hack shouldn't put you off further upgrading it, however. In addition to the cabbage, you could also add some extra onion, garlic, or indeed, any of the 24 ingredients we think will give corned beef hash a tasty twist. For added flavor and complexity, you could treat your corned beef hash to a few dashes of umami-rich Worcestershire sauce, or hot sauce. 

Finally, when serving up your corned beef hash and cabbage, it's hard to go wrong poached or fried eggs, but if you feel like something a little different, you can have it British style with a side of baked beans. You also may want to follow our advice, and discover how canned mushrooms can make for an elevated corned beef hash.