Kielbasa with Cabbage & Apples

Kielbasa with Cabbage & Apples

A good fall meal doesn't need to be complicated. This week's Farmstead Meal brings together our fresh Kielbasa, cabbage from Indiana Produce, Golden Supreme apples from Mick Klug Farms, and butternut squash from LAR Acres.

The Kielbasa brings plenty of flavor to the skillet, while the cabbage and apples cook together in the sausage drippings. Roasted butternut squash rounds out the meal. It's a simple way to bring ingredients from several local farms together for dinner.

Farmstead Meal #011
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30–35 minutes

Ingredients

From The Farmstead

• 1½–2 lb Jake's Fresh Kielbasa
• 1½ lb cabbage, sliced (about ⅓ of a large head)
• 2 Golden Supreme apples from Mick Klug Farms
• 1 medium butternut squash

From Your Pantry or Garden

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup water

Directions

Roast the Butternut Squash

Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel the squash, remove the seeds, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Toss with 1 tablespoon oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25–35 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender and lightly browned.

Prepare the Cabbage & Apples

Remove the core from the cabbage and slice into thin strips. Core the apples and cut into wedges, leaving the skins on.

Cook the Kielbasa

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Kielbasa and brown on all sides, turning occasionally.

Add ¼ cup water, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking until the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Cook the Cabbage

Allow any remaining water to evaporate. Add the cabbage to the same skillet, cooking in the sausage drippings. Sauté for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage softens and begins to brown. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Add the Apples & Serve

Add the apple wedges and cook another 4–6 minutes, until slightly softened but still holding their shape.

Return the Kielbasa to the skillet and warm everything together for a couple of minutes. Serve with the roasted butternut squash on the side.

Farmstead Tip

Save the Drippings!

Cooking the cabbage in the Kielbasa drippings adds flavor without extra seasoning. Let the cabbage brown a little before adding the apples to bring out its natural sweetness.

Know Your Cut: Jake's Sausages

Our sausages start with pork raised on our family farm. They're made with simple ingredients, carefully chosen seasonings, and no unnecessary fillers.

Whether it's bratwurst, breakfast sausage, or Kielbasa, we believe a good sausage should start with good meat.

Our fresh Kielbasa has a pronounced garlic flavor that works especially well with cabbage and apples. Unlike fully cooked smoked Kielbasa, fresh Kielbasa needs to be cooked thoroughly before serving.

Why Pastured Pork?

Raising pigs on pasture gives them room to move, root, and express their natural behaviors. They're part of our larger approach to farming, where animals help cycle nutrients through the land.

We also appreciate the flavor and marbling that come from raising our heritage pork outdoors. That natural richness makes a difference in the sausages we produce.

Cooking Tips for Fresh Sausage

• Brown gently over medium heat for good color and flavor.
• A little water and a covered skillet help the sausage cook evenly.
• Cook fresh pork sausage to an internal temperature of 160°F.
• Use the drippings to flavor vegetables cooked in the same pan.

Meet the Maker: Mick Klug Farms

Mick Klug Farms is a third-generation family farm in St. Joseph, Michigan, growing fruit and vegetables in Southwest Michigan.

Their farm has built a reputation for seasonal produce, including apples, peaches, berries, and vegetables. We're glad to have their fruit as part of what we offer at The Farmstead.

Golden Supreme Apples

Golden Supreme apples are crisp, mild, and naturally sweet. They're good for eating fresh, but they also work well in cooking.

For this recipe, they add just enough sweetness to balance the savory Kielbasa and cabbage. Adding them toward the end keeps the pieces from getting too soft.

What You'll Find at The Farmstead

Everything you need for this meal starts with four ingredients available at The Farmstead:

• Fresh Kielbasa from Jake's Country Meats
• Cabbage from Indiana Produce
• Golden Supreme apples from Mick Klug Farms
• Butternut squash from LAR Acres

You'll only need a little cooking oil, salt, and pepper from your pantry.

Our cabbage heads are especially large this season, often weighing 4–5 pounds. This recipe uses about 1½ pounds, leaving plenty for another meal.

Made Possible by Local Producers

• Jake's Country Meats: Fresh Kielbasa
• Mick Klug Farms: Golden Supreme Apples
• Indiana Produce: Cabbage
• LAR Acres: Butternut Squash

Each Farmstead Meal is an opportunity to bring food from our farm together with what neighboring farmers and makers are producing. The ingredients change with the seasons, but the idea remains the same: good food, raised and grown by real people.

About The Farmstead

The Farmstead by Jake's Country Meats brings together meat from our family farm and food from neighboring farms, fisheries, and local makers. It's a place to know where your food comes from, meet the people behind it, and find simple ways to enjoy what's in season.

Through good food and shared recipes, we're building a stronger local food system, one meal at a time.

Visit us at 57470 M-51 S, Dowagiac, Michigan, just south of town.