Got a head of napa cabbage? This Japanese-style Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry recipe couldn’t be simpler! A quick cook in a hot pan with smoked bacon and shiitake mushrooms, and finish off with a seasoning of soy sauce and fresh grinds of black pepper. You’ll be amazed at the incredible amount of flavor from this humble Asian cabbage. This stir-fry makes a welcome side to just about any Japanese or Asian dinner—pan-fried or baked tofu, braised brisket, fried eggs, baked chicken, miso salmon, you name it.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
Quick and simple. Ideal for a weeknight vegetable dish. Use up a lot of napa cabbage. The easiest way to utilize the cabbage, especially after using it just for one recipe that calls for a few leaves. Healthy and nutritious! Napa cabbage offers a lot of vitamins and minerals and is also an excellent source of dietary fiber. What’s not to love?
What is Napa Cabbage?
Thanks to its unique texture and sweetness, napa cabbage, also widely known as Chinese cabbage or hakusai (白菜) in Japanese, is a favorite cabbage used in East Asian cuisines. If you’re new to this Asian vegetable, you can read more about its health benefits, how to buy the best, how to store it, and all the information here. You can find napa cabbage at an Asian market or major grocery stores these days.
A Quick Recipe Note
This Japanese version of napa cabbage stir-fry might remind you of Chinese cabbage stir-fry dishes at take-out restaurants or your mom’s homestyle dish. It is indeed very similar, but the main difference is we don’t typically include garlic or ginger as the smoked bacon and shiitake mushrooms already lend a ton of aroma to the dish. We also use just a splash of soy sauce and black pepper for the seasoning, whereas Chinese cabbage stir fries commonly include oyster sauce.
How to Make Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry
Ingredients You’ll Need
Napa cabbage (Hakusai)Shiitake mushrooms (optional) – You can use other types of mushrooms if you prefer. Not a fan of mushrooms? Leave it out or use other veggies such as carrots and onion. Bacon (optional) – I added bacon for protein and a boost of savory flavor and dimensional texture. You can switch it out with shrimp if you’d like. Skip the bacon if you’re vegan/vegetarian. You could also substitute it with tofu or seitan for more substance. Salt and black pepperSoy sauce
Overview: Cooking Steps
Cut the napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and bacon.Stir fry bacon until the fat is rendered. Add the tough part of the napa cabbage and cook covered.Add the leafy part of the napa cabbage and cook covered.Season the stir-fry with soy sauce and black pepper. Serve immediately.
Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry Cooking Tips
Napa cabbage comes with tender leaves and thick white ribs in the center, so it’s wise to treat them differently when cutting, cooking, and seasoning.
Cut the tough, thick pieces of the napa cabbage into smaller pieces than the leafy pieces.Cook the tough napa cabbage pieces first, and then the leafy pieces.Season the napa cabbage with salt in separate stages: when cooking tough ribs and leafy parts.
What to Serve with Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry
The sweet, savory flavor of the stir-fry complements many dishes, but try these recipes if you’re looking for some suggestions:
Instant Pot Honey Spare RibsMiso SalmonKinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir-Fry)Teriyaki Tofu Braised Pork BellySlow Cooker Sriracha Chicken WingsJapanese Egg Drop Soup
Other Napa Cabbage Recipes
Creamy Napa Cabbage and Bacon PastaQuick Korean Fresh KimchiMille-Feuille NabeMizore Nabe (Hot Pot with Grated Daikon)
Tableware from Musubi Kiln
I’ve partnered with a great ceramic online shop from Japan called Musubi Kiln. You will get 10% off with a coupon code JUSTONECOOKBOOK for your purchase. In this post, I’ve used:
Hibino Summum Mino Ware Kobachi Bowl SNATAME Yamanaka Lacquer Miso Soup Bowl
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