What Is Napa Cabbage?
Napa cabbage is a variety of Chinese cabbage that is oval or oblong shaped and has wide, flat, white ribs that run up the sides of the head. Green and red cabbage (regular cabbage) have dense round heads that are formed together tightly. Green and red cabbage also have ribs that are the same color as the leaves and are usually tougher on the outside leaves. Even the texture is a bit different with Napa cabbage being more tender and less dense, while regular cabbage is crunchy and denser.
How to Pick the Perfect Napa Cabbage
Make sure to look for a Napa cabbage that’s firm to the touch, with compact leaves, that look fresh and crisp. Try to avoid picking a cabbage with any blemishes or brown spots and wilted leaves.
How to Cut Napa Cabbage
How to Cook Napa Cabbage
Both Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage can be eaten raw in salads and slaws or cooked, but Napa cabbage breaks down more easily when cooked. What to do with Napa cabbage:
It can be eaten raw, such as in salads, slaws, and veggie platters.Grilled Napa cabbage is delicious! The grill brings out a smoky, caramelized flavor.Dumplings and stir-fries with Napa cabbage are very popular.Napa cabbage is also delicious in soups and casseroles.Napa cabbage is great in stews and steamed and really doesn’t need much time cooking. It usually takes around four minutes to be perfectly cooked.
Best Napa Cabbage Recipes
Try one of these 39 best Napa cabbage recipes, like savory Sautéed Napa Cabbage, no-cook Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw, Ming Tsai’s Classic Pork Pot Stickers with Cabbage, Napa Cabbage Steaks and more! Get the recipe: Thai Chicken Salad in Cabbage Wraps Get the recipe: Featherweight Slaw with Chicken Get the recipe: Ming Tsai’s Classic Pork Pot Stickers Get the recipe: Coleslaw with Creamy Cumin-Lime-Dill Vinaigrette Get the recipe: Caramelized Kimchi Baked Potatoes Get the recipe: Japanese Vegetable Noodle Soup Get the recipe: Asian Farro Chicken Salad Get the recipe: Butternut Squash and Asparagus Dumplings Get the recipe: Longevity Noodles (Chicken Lo Mein with Ginger Mushrooms) Get the recipe: Asian Chicken Salad Get the recipe: Sautéed Napa Cabbage Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Steaks Get the recipe: Cabbage Egg Drop Soup Get the recipe: Cucumber and Napa Cabbage Coleslaw Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Caesar Salad Get the recipe: Healthy Napa Cabbage Salad Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Stir Fry with Mushrooms Get the recipe: Chinese Napa Cabbage with Glass Noodles Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Soup with Meatballs Get the recipe: Buddha’s Delight Related Post: 25 Tasty Fried Rice Recipes Get the recipe: Asian Stuffed Cabbage Get the recipe: Thai Crunch Salad Get the recipe: Spicy Shrimp & Napa Cabbage Stir Fry Get the recipe: Crispy Cod & Yuzu-Shoyu Soba with Napa Cabbage Get the recipe: Orange Beef Lo Mein with Gai Lan & Napa Cabbage Get the recipe: Korean-Style Beef Tacos Get the recipe: Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls with Shrimp Get the recipe: Napa Cabbage Sticky Rice Rolls Get the recipe: Cabbage-Tofu Delicata Squash Stew Get the recipe: Lucky Money Bag Dumplings Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Soup with Napa Cabbage Get the recipe: Crunchy Mandarin Salad Get the recipe: Pork-Shrimp and Napa Cabbage Dumplings Get the recipe: Chicken Lo Mein Get the recipe: Chinese Hot Pot Get the recipe: Korean Seafood Noodle Soup Get the recipe: Crunchy Napa Slaw Get the recipe: Melting Napa Cabbage Next: Best Cabbage Soup Recipes
