This list features 30 of the best Nappa cabbage recipes that can help you use and show off this delicious vegetable like a true pro!
Nappa cabbage is named after “Nappa,” which means the edible leaves of vegetables in Japanese.
Although it has a Japanese name, did you know that it’s a Chinese variety?
It’s one of the most popular cabbages, and with good reason.
It has an iconic football-like shape, tightly packed leaves, a large size, and a light green color.
Nappa cabbage has the ability to change its texture and flavor depending on the preparation.
In fresh salads, Nappa has a satisfying crunch and a refreshing taste.
When sauteed, braised, or stewed, it softens and develops a more pronounced sweetness.
If you’re looking for ideas, here are 30 Nappa cabbage recipes to try.
Okonomiyaki is a classic Japanese street food you can easily make with ingredients in your home.
Try Steamed Cod Over Nappa Cabbage for a delicate fish dish.
You’ll love the slow-cooked summer flavors of #28!
Gochujang is a popular Korean condiment that’s sweet, spicy, funky, and savory all at the same time.
Marinating the cabbage in gochujang before braising ensures that every layer is well-seasoned and has absorbed the flavor of the chili paste.
This recipe makes an easy 30-minute spicy side dish.
If we’re talking about quick and tasty dishes, stir-fries are at the top of the list.
A simple seasoning of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar gives it a well-balanced flavor.
This saucy dish is excellent on top of freshly cooked white rice.
Melting, as in melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
The cabbage wedges are seared first, adding a hint of roasted flavor.
Slow-cooking the cabbage while submerged in a spicy tomato broth makes them intensely flavorful.
We love a baked veggie salad!
Kale leaves are lighter and cook faster than cabbage, so baking them simultaneously creates a pleasant texture.
Roasting allows the greens to soften and develop a deeper flavor.
Enjoy the taste of summer with this recipe.
This bright veggie salad is very filling with chow mein noodles.
A creamy ginger soy dressing adds a lot of magic to the dish and brings it all together.
Even avid meat lovers will enjoy this meatless steak recipe.
Paprika gives the steaks a beautiful color and a smoky and spicy taste.
The slight kick from the pepper flakes is balanced with the honey-like agave syrup.
If you’re looking for a meaty meatless dish, try this recipe.
Cabbage has a gentle flavor that goes well with meaty mushrooms.
For maximum taste, saute mushrooms until they’re brown.
This salad has a crunchy topping: ramen noodles.
A sesame soy dressing gives it a subtle, savory, and nutty flavor.
You can try roasted sesame dressing for an even richer taste.
Did you know that rutabaga and cabbage are from one plant family?
No wonder they go so well together.
The buttery flavor of the rutabaga fries works excellent with the sweetness of the cabbage.
Glass noodles have a silky smooth and chewy mouthfeel, making them so satisfying to eat.
Sichuan peppercorn-infused oil packs a lot of fragrance and flavor into this dish.
Cabbage naturally has layers of leaves, making it ideal for a vegetable “lasagna.”
This dish is loaded with meat and sauce like a regular lasagna.
Parmesan cheese gives the dish a pleasantly fruity, tangy taste and a smooth texture.
You can make ramen noodles a party favorite with this recipe.
The tamari sauce’s umami and maple syrup’s pleasant caramel taste is a match made in heaven.
Zesty orange juice balances the dish, but you can swap it out for lemon or lime juice.
Fish sauce’s potent mix of savory and briny seasons the veggies.
Lime juice provides acidity to brighten up the flavors of the salad.
With pumpkin seeds and tomato, this salad can be a hearty main dish.
This dish features Asian flavors wrapped in a tight package.
Firm, tough cabbage leaves are an excellent wrap because of their durability.
Steaming cooks the pork and mushrooms all the way through but allows the leaves to maintain a bit of their crunchy texture.
You had me at bacon!
Rendering the bacon fat until they’re crispy allows the mushroom to absorb its meaty, briny, and smoky goodness.
Honey mustard gives the salad a sweet and tangy touch.
Everything tastes better wrapped!
The fresh crunch of the veggies works so well with the nutty and creamy peanut butter dipping sauce.
Since this recipe is versatile, feel free to mix and match flavors and textures to give it a personal twist.
Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish that’s a staple in Korean cuisine.
Its bright, spicy, and sour flavors are a welcome addition to any dish.
You can enjoy kimchi as a side or stir-fry it for kimchi fried rice.
This 3-ingredient pickle recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare.
A long bath in the pickling liquid helps the cabbage absorb the intense umami of the shio koki and shio kombu.
Patience is critical for this recipe.
Make the wait even more worth it by making a big batch.
19. Grilled Cabbage
This recipe is as simple as it can get.
Cabbage wedges are grilled until tender and get beautiful grill marks.
It is lightly seasoned, so let your creativity run wild.
You can enjoy it with herb-infused butter or a creamy balsamic dressing.
If you want to practice your folding skills, try this recipe!
Potstickers are tasty pockets of meat that crisp up when seared on a hot pan.
You can dip this dish in soy sauce or any savory condiment.
The color contrast in the seared cabbage is stunning.
Coated with luscious miso butter and toasted nori, this dish is full of rich umami.
Making the butter sauce with darker miso will give it a more complex flavor profile.
Cod is a white-fleshed fish with a mild, milky flavor.
There are many types of cod, but all of them are great for steaming.
Their soft, flaky texture is excellent, with crunchy cabbage and a light sauce.
23. Okonomiyaki
Enjoy the taste of Japan right in your own home.
Okonomiyaki is a street food made with cabbage, flour, and eggs.
It’s a simple recipe with a light flavor enriched by a thick, rich, sweet sauce.
Its name translates to “as you like it,” so feel free to top it with your favorite ingredients.
You can keep the chill away with this warm and hearty soup.
Chickpeas and kidney beans get a soft, buttery texture from the long cooking time.
This recipe is meat-free, but you can add chunks of beef or bacon if you want.
This creamy recipe is a fail-safe crowd-pleaser!
Coconut cream has a rich, nutty taste that works well with the salty bacon bits.
Shredded mozzarella cheese on top gets deliciously brown and melted from the oven heat.
Fried rice proves that amazing food can also be so easy to make.
It’s a household favorite, but its humble elegance has found its way into restaurants.
Imagine a perfect pile of individual rice grains mixed with sausage and cabbage—simply beautiful!
Craving Chinese food?
Check out this recipe!
The thick egg sauce tastes like a light and yummy soup with oyster sauce and Shaoxing wine.
You can add chewy chow mein or rice noodles to make it a filling meal.
Curl up with this comforting stew on a cold night.
Tofu is great for stews or saucy dishes because it can absorb the flavor of other ingredients.
Stewing savory mushrooms, creamy squash, and sweet cabbage together creates a soup that tastes incredible.
Cabbage may seem unusual for a pasta recipe, but it blends right in with the sauce!
It will shrink as it cooks, so cut the leaves into bigger chunks if you want to keep the crunch.
Adding cheese on top before broiling allows it to develop a deep caramelized flavor.
30. Baja Fish Tacos
Looking for Taco Tuesday ideas?
Try this recipe!
Delicate fish coated with Mexican seasoning and wrapped in a soft tortilla—yum!
A flaky and firm fish works best for this recipe, but you can use any fish you have on hand.
The bottom line
Nappa cabbage often plays a supporting role, but it can easily be the star if given a chance.
You can make all 30 dishes in this list at home, so take your pick and try them out.
Best Nappa Cabbage Recipes
This list features 30 of the best Nappa cabbage recipes that can help you use and show off this delicious vegetable like a true pro!
Ingredients
- Gochujang Braised Nappa Cabbage
- Nappa Cabbage Stir-Fry
- Melting Nappa Cabbage
- Roasted Kale Nappa Cabbage
- Nappa Cabbage Asian Slaw
- Nappa Cabbage Steaks
- Nappa Cabbage & Mushroom
- Chinese Nappa Cabbage Salad
- Rutabaga Fries With Nappa Cabbage
- Chinese Nappa Cabbage With Glass Noodles
- Cabbage & Mushroom Lasagna
- Nappa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad
- Burmese Ginger Salad (Jin Thoke)
- Nappa Cabbage Wrapped Shiitake Pork Rolls
- Bacon & Cabbage Salad
- Nappa Cabbage Summer Rolls
- Nappa Cabbage Kimchi
- Pickled Nappa Cabbage
- Grilled Cabbage
- Pork & Cabbage Potstickers
- Seared Nappa Cabbage With Miso Butter
- Steamed Cod Over Nappa Cabbage
- Okonomiyaki
- Nappa Cabbage & Bean Soup
- Creamed Nappa Cabbage Casserole
- Sausage & Cabbage Fried Rice
- Chicken & Nappa Cabbage In Egg Sauce
- Cabbage Tofu Delicata Squash Stew
- Creamy Pasta With Nappa Cabbage & Bacon
- Baja Fish Tacos
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Nappa Cabbage Recipes.
- Choose the dish you want to recreate.
- Start cooking your newly found recipe.
- Share your insights on our Facebook page.