Sauteed Napa Cabbage Recipe (2024)

By Jacques Pepin

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
4(292)
Notes
Read community notes

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • 1large or 2 small Napa cabbages (about 2 pounds), cut horizontally into 1½-inch chunks (yielding about 14 to 15 cups, lightly packed)
  • 3tablespoons safflower or canola oil
  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½teaspoon salt

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

114 calories; 11 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 281 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Sauteed Napa Cabbage Recipe (1)

Preparation

  1. In a sink filled with cold water, wash the cabbage, lifting it in and out of the water, and drain in a colander. Heat the oil in a saucepan until hot, add the butter and, as soon as it melts, add the wet cabbage. Cover and cook over medium-to-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cabbage is wilted and tender but still slightly firm. The cabbage will sizzle initially but then will stew as the water emerges from it. Mix in the pepper and salt and serve immediately.

Ratings

4

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292

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Will

Nice and super easy. The butter really plays a prominent role. The suggestion to add a little bit of soy sauce made it tasty too.

Anne

A simple recipe that I halved, using 1 tbsp of oil and one of butter, it was very good! I used it as a side to a sous vide prepared pork chop w/ a cider caramel sauce. It was a perfect accompaniment!

susie

crazy how super simple recipes like this can taste so transcendant.i resisted urge to add garlic, ginger and soy to this. i'm glad i gave this a try exactly as written. great use of csa napa cabbage!

Susanne

Wonderful vegetable side dish to add to the repertoire! Followed the recipe exactly and found it to be very easy and fast. Silky buttery texture. Served it with meatloaf and roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious!

Jane M.

Yes, no additions or changes would improve this simple and excellent recipe. Other flavors could create something else. It is just right as it is.

Jennie

Make sure to cut the cabbage into bite-size pieces (I learned the hard way). This is surprisingly nice, and certainly an easy way to use up a gigantic Napa cabbage.

Es

Perfect with roast duck! Very easy. The cut-up cabbage keeps its shape so it looks nice on the plate. Plenty of pepper was nice with the duck but you could add any spice that goes with your meal. Napa cabbage is relatively mild but it does have a little bite.

one lucky lass

What a nice simple recipe? This was amazingly good despite its simplicity. I accidentally left it on the heat a bit too long and it was it burnt but it still tasted delicious despite there being some brown spots on the cabbage.

Mezzodiva

Really easy, siimple and delicious. I wouldn't change a thing - it lets the gentle taste of Napa cabbage shine.

DrDre2008

This almost stole our St. Paddy's celebration. I was tempted to add this or that per comments, but resisting was a good decision. So elegantly delicious along side a vegetarian shepherd's pie.

Jennie

Napa cabbage is challenging at the best of times for me, and I found this treatment (which I followed to the letter) resulted in a watery, tasteless vegetable side dish with the occasional whisper of butter (mostly lost in all the cabbage juice that remained even after I strained it). Nevertheless, the Napa cabbage is no longer sitting in my vegetable drawer, so that's something.

Jennie

Make sure to cut the cabbage into bite-size pieces (I learned the hard way). This is surprisingly nice, and certainly an easy way to use up a gigantic Napa cabbage.

Deborah Christie

Found this recipe bland - prefer to use Napa cabbage in spicy soup such as «hot pot». Just my 2 cents …

DrDre2008

This almost stole our St. Paddy's celebration. I was tempted to add this or that per comments, but resisting was a good decision. So elegantly delicious along side a vegetarian shepherd's pie.

coffeespoon

Very surprised by this recipe. Amazingly delicious and so simple - we had no idea napa cabbage could taste this delicious!

Kristy

Love this dish. It needs nothing more than the recipe calls for. The simple deliciousness of good French cooking. I use vegan butter and some flavorful olive oil as I'm dairy-free.

Rick

I added some older dryer prunes coarsely chopped during the steaming stage. I think any dried fruit would jazz up this staple.

Mezzodiva

Really easy, siimple and delicious. I wouldn't change a thing - it lets the gentle taste of Napa cabbage shine.

Susanne

Wonderful vegetable side dish to add to the repertoire! Followed the recipe exactly and found it to be very easy and fast. Silky buttery texture. Served it with meatloaf and roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious!

susie

crazy how super simple recipes like this can taste so transcendant.i resisted urge to add garlic, ginger and soy to this. i'm glad i gave this a try exactly as written. great use of csa napa cabbage!

Jane M.

Yes, no additions or changes would improve this simple and excellent recipe. Other flavors could create something else. It is just right as it is.

JJS

I had a head of green cabbage so I used it. I had to pull the strips of cabbage apart while washing. Napa would be much easier to process. But the flavor was wonderful and the texture silky. I will make it with Napa cabbage next time.

one lucky lass

What a nice simple recipe? This was amazingly good despite its simplicity. I accidentally left it on the heat a bit too long and it was it burnt but it still tasted delicious despite there being some brown spots on the cabbage.

Es

Perfect with roast duck! Very easy. The cut-up cabbage keeps its shape so it looks nice on the plate. Plenty of pepper was nice with the duck but you could add any spice that goes with your meal. Napa cabbage is relatively mild but it does have a little bite.

Will

Nice and super easy. The butter really plays a prominent role. The suggestion to add a little bit of soy sauce made it tasty too.

Anne

A simple recipe that I halved, using 1 tbsp of oil and one of butter, it was very good! I used it as a side to a sous vide prepared pork chop w/ a cider caramel sauce. It was a perfect accompaniment!

Don

Thanks for this great tip.

Anne .G

how do you make cider caramel sauce , Anne?

Private notes are only visible to you.

Sauteed Napa Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook napa cabbage the same as regular cabbage? ›

Both work well in salads and slaws, but it's not a good idea to substitute one for the other in cooked dishes. For example, napa's texture and flavor make it an ideal choice for quick stir-fries. Regular cabbage isn't as delicate as napa, so it's a better choice for slow-cooked recipes.

How do you prep napa cabbage? ›

Separate the napa cabbage leaves by only tearing off the ones you plan to cook with. Cut off the green parts and slice them into large bite-sized pieces. When cutting the white part, tilt your knife to 45 degrees and slice the stem into irregular bite-sized pieces.

Is napa cabbage healthier than regular cabbage? ›

Both are excellent sources of important vitamins and minerals. Regular cabbage contains more calcium, zinc and potassium than napa, but napa cabbage contains higher levels of vitamins A, B3, iron and copper. Napa is also lower in sodium than regular cabbage.

Why is napa cabbage good for stir frying? ›

Napa, or Chinese cabbage, is a relative of bok choy. It's sweet and mild compared to peppery green cabbage; its leaves are thinner, more tender, and quicker to caramelize. Because it's not as sturdy, napa is a bit less crunchy than the standard variety, especially when cooked.

How do you cut and cook napa cabbage? ›

Dice the cabbage into bite-sized pieces for stir-frys.

Cut the quartered cabbage into wide strips. Turn your knife and cut across the strips to break them down into pieces that are small enough to eat in one bite. The smaller the pieces of cabbage, the less time it will take for them to cook through.

Is napa cabbage healthier than lettuce? ›

Both cabbage and iceberg lettuce are good sources of nutrients. However, cabbage contains significantly more vitamins and minerals than iceberg lettuce, including vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium ( 1 , 2 ). In particular, green cabbage is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenol compounds and vitamin C.

How do you make napa cabbage less bitter? ›

Chop and soak: Soaking chopped cabbage in cold water for about 15 minutes will leach out most of the bitter and harsh flavor compounds, while also making the cabbage crisper. This is especially vital for leaf cabbage, but also works with firmer head cabbage varieties.

Do you have to wash napa cabbage before cooking? ›

Separate the leaves and rinse under cold running water or soak it in cold water for 10 minutes, to remove any dirt. Another method is to pluck all the leaves from the steam, clean, and stack them before chopping the stack. Napa cabbage is commonly chopped across the veins into bite-sized pieces or shredded for slaws.

Can you eat too much napa cabbage? ›

Consuming cabbage in excess can result in abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and flatulence. It can also result in ingesting toxic chemicals like goitrin, thiocyanates and benzyl cyanide.

Which is healthier, bok choy or napa cabbage? ›

Nutrition: Bok choy is significantly higher in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A than napa cabbage. Texture: Bok choy stalks are more fibrous than the leaves of napa cabbage, and you'd therefore be less likely to encounter them raw.

Why is napa cabbage so expensive? ›

A significant reason for the rising price of cabbage is drought which makes it hard to grow the crop.

How to cut napa cabbage for stir fry? ›

The best way to chop napa cabbage is to first remove the tough outer leaves. Then, slice the cabbage in half lengthwise and remove the core. After that, you can cut the cabbage into thin strips or chop it into bite-sized pieces, depending on your recipe.

Is it OK to eat napa cabbage raw? ›

Yes, raw napa cabbage is a favorite salad ingredient, valued for its crisp texture and slightly sweet taste. Be sure to rinse the cabbage well and thoroughly drain it before using or wrapping it for storage in the refrigerator.

Does napa cabbage and regular cabbage taste the same? ›

Napa cabbage has long, oblong-shaped leaves with white ribs and pale green color, while green cabbage has round, compact heads with tightly packed leaves that are darker green. In terms of taste, Napa cabbage tends to be milder and sweeter, while green cabbage has a stronger, more peppery flavor.

Can I substitute green cabbage for napa cabbage? ›

While napa cabbage has a milder and sweeter flavor compared to green cabbage, the taste difference may not significantly affect certain dishes. Green cabbage still offers a pleasant taste that can complement various recipes. While it has a slightly stronger flavor, it works well in stir-fries, soups, and slaws.

Does napa cabbage taste different than regular cabbage? ›

Napa Cabbage

This cabbage is also known as Chinese Cabbage, and it is an oblong shape with thick, crisp stems and frilled yellow-green leaves. Napa cabbage has a sweeter flavor than other cabbages and is great raw in salads.

Do green cabbage and napa cabbage taste the same? ›

Napa cabbage is a variety of Chinese cabbage, and according to Taste of Home, it's a relative of bok choy. It has a more tender bite than green cabbage, with a slightly sweeter flavor when raw. It also has thinner leaves that are not as tightly packed in their more oblong shape.

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