How to Make the Best Napa Cabbage Dish on a Cheap Budget

No, it’s not cabbage from Napa County in California. One might think that at first, but it actually originated near the Beijing region of China. Since the 20th century, it has been found in Europe, the Americas and Australia.

This delicious crispy vegetable is a popular ingredient in several Asian dishes. In Chinese, it is called “Big White Vegetable” and it is full of nutrition and healthy benefits. There is an old saying that goes, “One can never get tired of eating Napa cabbage”. During the winter time, this vegetable was one of the few edible greens that thrived in the cold weather in Northern regions of China. Because of this, people started getting creative and learned various ways to cook Napa cabbage so their meals were a little less boring. These leafy greens are in salads, stir-fries, soups, dumplings, steamed & braised dishes, and more.

I personally boil, steam, or stir-fry my Napa cabbage depending on what else I’m eating on the side. For example, when eating ramen, I add a handful of pieces when I boil both at the same time. When steaming, I put it together with my frozen Taiwanese juicy pork dumplings. I make sure to place it underneath the dumplings so it doesn’t stick to the plate. Lastly, my favorite way to cook it is by stir-fry. I add garlic, ginger, pepper, ponzu sauce, and usually a sausage or two with this cabbage. The aroma during the cooking process is so exquisite, that it is hard not to snack on this dish before it is completed!

You don’t need to be a chef to make this recipe. Preparation takes less than 10 minutes and stir-frying is super easy. Anyone can do it. Yes, even kids (with parental supervision, of course). So, allow me to guide you step by step on how you can make this dish for lunch or dinner in no time at all!

The Fastest Way to Cut Napa Cabbage When Stir-Frying

Since Napa cabbage can be large in size, especially when you start from the outer layer, there’s a perfect way to cut these thick leaves easily. They are usually about twelve inches or smaller with a strong white spine in the middle. I like to try to cut them in pieces of the same size, so it cooks evenly all together. You’ll want to cut this vegetable in a way that allows the fragrances from your meats and spices to come out and absorb into it.

How to Slice Your Cabbage

Wash your full sized leaves in a big water bucket or a plugged empty clean sink. Then drain the dirty water.
Take two leaves at a time (preferably those of a similar size) and lay it on top of each other.
Slice down in the middle of the white spine with a sharp cutting knife. Cut vertically with the sharpest tip all the way down.
Then start cutting at an intersection an inch apart up to the end.
Place your pieces into a large strainer or colander to dry. Then set aside. Next…

Learn How To Create The Ultimate Seasoning Sauce

Many Chinese cuisines use garlic and ginger. It is a common must-have ingredient with almost every meal. Here is how you prep these items:

How to Cut Garlic

Press on the garlic with a butcher knife to crack the outer layer open and throw away the shell.
Trim the bottom root area if it is dark and dry, and dispose of it in the trash too.
Chop it thinly into tiny pieces vertically and horizontally until they look like crumbs.
Set aside.

How to Cut Ginger

Rub and rinse your ginger root.
Cut off or peel the skin. Some people don’t mind keeping the skin on as it is perfectly safe. So this is optional.
Chop thoroughly into thin vertical slices or the same way as above with the garlic.
Set aside.

How to Slice Sausage

If you want to go for the authentic Asian cuisine, Chinese sausage is your best choice because it adds a hint of sweet and saltiness to the dish. However, I’ve used other varieties with different flavors like Organic Apple Chicken Sausage too and it is just as delicious.

Hold the sausage with your left hand and cut with a sharp butcher knife with your right hand. (Or, whichever side is more familiar to you.)
When you cut, I like to cut it in diagonal thin slices. However; you are welcome to cut it whichever way you’d like. It all goes down the same way.

Time to Stir-Fry to Perfection

Heat the stove to medium-high.
Add the chopped garlic and ginger together into an oiled pan. Let them cook for about 1 minute.
Then add your preferred sausage and heat for another minute
Then add your napa cabbage and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix around and cover for 5 minutes. Watch as it shrinks and mix around again. You want to make sure not to overcook it, yet still soft enough to bite through.
Lastly, add 2 tablespoons of ponzu sauce and stir until evenly dispersed. You want to add the sauce last because the salt in it will extract too much water from the cabbage.
Now it’s ready to serve.

Other Seasonings You Can Use Instead of Ponzu Sauce

Dried chili and rice vinegar are a popular alternative. Soy sauce is also a favorable option. Or you can just use a pinch of salt, sugar, and starch — my grandma’s choice.

Scallions can also be sprinkled on top of the final dish to add that extra kick of onion taste if you’d like.

This is surely a very simple stir-fry dish to make. All you need is a few minutes to prep and cook it. There is a particular way to make it in terms of taste and texture if you want to go for the restaurant style. The most important factors are controlling the heat and measuring the time it cooks. The heat should be high and the time it cooks should be short enough where your cabbage doesn’t get too soggy. You want the white center part of the leaves to still stay a little crunchy and not too wet. However, if you do make it where you accidentally overcook it, don’t fret! It is still edible and just as good for you.

And as far as tools go, If you have a large wok, stir-frying all the ingredients in there will give you the best results. A regular pan is also recommended as an alternative.

Now that you are aware of this tasty recipe, let me share with you why this dish is so good for you.

Garlic Benefits

Garlic is a powerful herb that helps you maintain a healthy diet and can cure a lot of illnesses. Its medicinal properties treat sickness and can combat the common cold. One clove of raw garlic has manganese, vitamins B1, B6, and C, selenium, fiber, calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and protein. Your taste buds will be so happy you made your dish with this ingredient. Garlic is so popular that there is even an Italian restaurant called The Stinking Rose where their menu is garlic themed. Yes, even in the dessert section includes garlic!

Ginger Benefits

Ginger root is a superfood that has high levels of vitamin C, magnesium, and other minerals. It stimulates digestion, lowers blood pressure, reduces nausea, reduces inflammation, has antibacterial properties, regulates blood-sugar, reduces high blood pressure, and lessens cholesterol levels which clears up the fatty buildups in your arteries. Oh! And women, you’ll like this. Ginger also helps with your menstrual pains. So if you have major cramps, it wouldn’t hurt to drink some ginger tea or make a napa cabbage dish with lots of ginger in it. Ginger brings out a zesty aroma that can also clear your nasal passages with just a simple whiff when it is piping hot!

Sausage Benefits

With most types of sausages, this food provides high levels of vitamin B-12 and iron which support digestion, treat diabetes, brain health, repair cells, kidney health, and more. If you’re iron-deficient like me, this is a simple solution to getting your necessary intake. Now, they aren’t the healthiest food, but you are welcome to substitute this dish with other meat varieties like fish or chicken.

Napa Cabbage Benefits

Napa cabbage has always been one of my favorite vegetables to eat because of its healthy properties. It is considered #2 on the superfood list, according to HuffPost. It has a better nutritional score compared to kale and spinach! It has many antioxidants and is rich in vitamin B, C, K, folic acid, and fiber. You don’t need to worry about weight gain. Napa cabbage has very low calories and helps the body to protect itself against cancers. It also lowers LDL levels.

I hope you enjoy this lightly sweet and salty dish. My recipe was made from the heart and I’d love to get your feedback once you’ve tasted it.

What are your thoughts on this meal? Add some comforting miso soup with enoki mushroom on the side.