Not sure what to make for dinner tonight? Discover the best Napa cabbage recipes, from tacos to stir-fries and everything in between. One of these recipes will definitely get you inspired!
Napa cabbage is one of those veggie chameleons that can blend in with any dish. From salads to stir-fries, tacos, and dumplings, there are endless ways to incorporate the crisp, mild flavor of this leafy green into your cooking.
What is Napa Cabbage?
Napa cabbage, also known as Chinese cabbage, originates from China and is a staple in East Asian cuisine. With its oblong shape and sweet, tender leaves, it’s a versatile ingredient used in dishes like kimchi, salads, soups, and stir-fries, and can serve as a nutritious wrap alternative.
Napa cabbage supports overall health with its low-calorie, hydrating properties. A single cup of raw green cabbage can provide a hefty dose of Vitamin K, C, Folate, and Manganese (1). Even when cooked, you’ll still find an impressive amount of nutrients with few calories, making Napa cabbage a great ingredient to bulk up a meal (2).
Napa cabbage thrives in cooler weather, making its primary growing seasons in the spring and fall. In the spring, it can be planted as soon as the soil is workable and harvested before the heat of summer sets in. For a fall harvest, it’s typically planted in late summer so it matures as the weather cools, usually ready to be picked in late fall.
So, are you sold on this leafy green? Good, because below you’ll learn some of the best recipes to try whenever you find Napa cabbage in season.
Popular Napa Cabbage Dishes
Below are some of the most popular dishes featuring Napa cabbage. Use these links to jump to each group:
Kimchi
Kimchi is among the most famous Korean dishes, and it’s one of the best-known foods that use Napa Cabbage as a primary ingredient. Kimchi is a traditional side dish of fermented vegetables, primarily made with Napa cabbage, seasoned with chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and a variety of other flavors.
Traditional Napa Cabbage Kimchi
While it requires some extra elbow grease and patience, making traditional homemade kimchi is worth the effort. You can expect a tangy, fiery, and savory dish with a hint of funk from the fermentation process.
get the recipeEasy Napa Cabbage Kimchi
With this simple recipe, you’ll never have to go without kimchi! Perfect your fermenting skills with this tangy, delicious side that complements any dish, from fried rice to dumplings.
get the recipeDumplings
Napa cabbage is often used as a filling in Asian dumplings, either alone or mixed with ingredients like pork, shrimp, or mushrooms. Its sweet flavor and crunchy texture make it a perfect filling ingredient.
Pork Dumpling with Napa Cabbage
This recipe combines the leafy green with ground pork, dried shrimp, and a few flavoring agents. After sinking your teeth into one of these bad boys, you can expect a savory, juicy mouthful held together by a pleasantly chewy wrapper. While it takes around an hour and a half to make this recipe, it’s all worth it in the end.
get the recipeNapa Cabbage Dumplings with Vegan Fillings
Celebrate Lunar New Year with these vegan napa cabbage dumplings, symbolizing good luck and wealth. Enjoy crafting them with spinach-juiced dough and savory tofu-vegetable fillings. Perfect for festive gatherings!
get the recipeOkonomiyaki (Japanese Savory Pancake)
Okay, this isn’t a dumpling, but it’s in a similar ballpark and yet in a category of its own. Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake loaded with lots of savory, umami flavors. Chopped napa cabbage takes center stage in this recipe, followed by green onion, bacon, eggs, and bonito flakes. Each pancake has a satisfying texture thanks to the cabbage and a hint of sweetness from the okonomiyaki sauce.
get the recipeRolls
Rolls using Napa cabbage are a healthy, low-carb option, perfect for a light lunch or as an appetizer. These rolls often consist of blanched Napa cabbage leaves that are used as a wrapper for a variety of fillings.
Asian Stuffed Napa Cabbage Rolls
If you think cabbage rolls are among the most comforting dish out there, you have to try this Asian-inspired rendition. You create a satisfying filling from ground beef or turkey, carrots, brown rice, and spices. After spooning a generous helping into each leaf, roll it up and bake. It’s as easy as that!
get the recipeCantonese Spring Rolls
Prepare to be blown away by these authentic Cantonese spring rolls. While this recipe goes heavy on the ingredients, the prep work is straightforward: create a filling, roll it into store-bought wrappers, then fry until golden brown. The only hard part about this recipe is stopping at just one!
get the recipeHealthier Napa Cabbage Rolls
If you love your cabbage rolls drowned in sauce, I’ve got just the recipe for you. These cabbage rolls are rich, heartwarming, and, best of all, healthy! This nutritious take on the classic comfort food uses ground turkey, quinoa, and light oil to create the same delicious staple that won’t weigh you down.
get the recipeStir-Fry
Napa cabbage adds crunch and sweetness to stir-fries. It pairs well with a variety of meats, tofu, and other vegetables, absorbing the flavors of the sauces and seasonings used.
Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry
Whether you need a quick side dish, easy lunch, or a simple main entree, this Napa cabbage stir fry can do it all. You won’t believe how much flavor is packed into this 5-ingredient wonder. Savory, smoky bacon and umami-rich shiitake mushrooms infuse a mouthwatering taste into the napa cabbage.
get the recipeSesame Chicken & Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry
This sesame chicken and napa cabbage stir fry is going to be your new weeknight savior. It’s insanely delicious, packed with protein and nutrients, and only takes 30 minutes to make! Plus, you can probably find most of the ingredients in your pantry as we speak.
get the recipeNapa Cabbage Stir Fry with Mushrooms
If you’re looking for a quick and easy vegan side dish, check out this napa cabbage stir fry. This 15-minute wonder uses a decent amount of ingredients, but it comes together in a breeze. And trust me when I say the results will blow you away. Combining umami mushrooms, seared cabbage, and bright cilantro will take your taste buds on a flavor journey.
get the recipeSpicy Garlic Napa Cabbage
This recipe proves that napa cabbage makes an excellent blank slate for any spice combination. In this case, you season the leafy green with soy sauce, green onions, red chili flakes, and lots of garlic. You’ll love how much flavor there is from the garlic and green onions alone, but the red chili flakes kick it up a notch.
get the recipeNapa Cabbage & Peanut Butter Chicken Stir-fry
At first glance, you might not think that cabbage and peanut butter belong in the same recipe. But after giving this stir-fry a taste, you’ll instantly become a believer. Expect a well-seasoned medley of rice, chicken, and veggies, all seared to perfection.
get the recipeEasy Sautéed Napa Cabbage
This sauteed Napa cabbage is super easy to make. We’re talking, ready in under 10 minutes, easy. This dish makes a sensational side with complex flavors from ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds. The napa cabbage soaks up each ingredient like a sponge.
get the recipeHot Pot
In this communal eating experience, thin slices of Napa cabbage are often added to a simmering pot of broth at the table. Its quick-cooking, tender leaves make it ideal for hot pots.
Sukiyaki
Whenever you host your next winter dinner party, cozy up with your guests over a steaming bowl of Japanese beef hot pot or Sukiyaki. There’s a lot to love about this heartwarming bowl, between the well-marbled beef, simmered tofu, and plentiful veggies cooked in a sweet soy sauce broth.
get the recipeMille-Feuille Nabe
Experience a taste of Japan with Mille Feuille Nabe, a stunning hot pot dish that layers Napa cabbage with thinly sliced pork belly. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for sharing, ensuring a cozy, comforting meal.
get the recipeSoup & Stew
Napa cabbage is a common ingredient in many Asian soups, including Chinese cabbage soup, where it is combined with broth, tofu, mushrooms, and seasonings for a simple, nourishing dish.
Chinese Napa Cabbage Soup
Prepare to be blown away by one of the most comforting soups you’ve ever had. This Chinese napa cabbage soup pretty much tastes like a hug in a bowl, with a deep savory broth and perfectly-boiled carrots and napa cabbage. You only need 7 ingredients to whip up a batch of this liquid comfort, and it comes together in under half an hour.
get the recipeStewed Napa Cabbage and Tofu with Vermicelli Noodles
This vegan stew is the perfect, heartwarming bowl to nuzzle next to after a walk in the snow. The steaming broth is soothing enough, but the chewy glass noodles, spongy tofu, and soft napa cabbage amp up the comfort meter to a new level.
get the recipeCreamed Napa Cabbage Casserole
When I say that creamed napa cabbage casserole is going to become your new favorite comfort food, I’m not joking around. This recipe is the real deal. It’s not technically a soup or stew, but it’s in that ballpark and will scratch the same itch. Just sauté napa cabbage, turkey bacon, and garlic in ghee, then bathe it in coconut cream. After transferring to a casserole dish, add mozzarella for extra cheesiness.
get the recipeSalad & Slaw
Napa cabbage is excellent in salads and slaws, providing a softer texture than typical green cabbage while still offering some crunch. It’s often mixed with other vegetables and a light dressing for a refreshing side dish.
Napa Cabbage Salad With Asian Dressing
This napa cabbage salad is a feast of textures, bringing together crisp, crunchy, and juicy ingredients in the same bite. You combine green onion, oranges, cilantro, and a handful of other components to create this uber-refreshing salad. It pretty much tastes like summer in a bowl and makes the perfect accompaniment for a backyard barbeque or picnic.
get the recipeJapanese Napa Cabbage Coleslaw
Shake up your summer slaw recipe by trying this Japanese-styled coleslaw. This 5-ingredient wonder uses a base of chopped napa cabbage and carrots for a satisfying crunch. The simple dressing only contains salt, mayo, and rice vinegar but bursts with tangy, bright flavors. After mixing the sauce into the veggies, you’re looking at one cool, crisp coleslaw ready to be paired with your favorite barbecue.
get the recipeNapa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad
Next time you’re in charge of bringing a side dish to a summer picnic, give this cabbage ramen salad a shot. There’s a high chance someone will be tracing you down to get the recipe after. You can whip up this colorful salad in under 30 minutes, and the results will blow your taste buds away. Expect a beautiful combination of crunchy, chewy textures bathed in a sweet and savory dressing.
get the recipeKorean Taco with Kalbi and Napa Cabbage Slaw
Next time you’re hosting Friday night football, make a batch of these Korean tacos. Your guests will obsess over them. The kalbi marinade gives the short rib a sweet and juicy texture that melts in your mouth, and the napa cabbage slaw adds a crave-worthy crunch. But this recipe doesn’t stop there. You create a homemade soy lime dressing for the slaw, a cherry tomato salsa, and a creamy gochujang sauce to drizzle on top. Talk about a stacked taco!
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