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Quick Stewed Napa Cabbage

Louise | November 2
quick paleo stewed napa cabbage

This is a really simple dish and you can make it with different types of cabbage. I used Napa cabbage, and if you’re unsure what that is, then keep reading.

What is Napa Cabbage?

Like many Asian fruits and vegetables, napa cabbage is known by a lot of different names!

This can make it quite confusing to buy in the store. Some common names include: nappa cabbage, bai cai, celery cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Chinese leaf, Wong Bok, Won Bok, and wombok!

Take a good look at the photo below of napa cabbage before heading to the store to buy it (it’s quite common in many grocery stores, even non-Asian ones).

paleo napa cabbage chinese

Napa cabbage is a really versatile and delicious vegetable – it soaks up the flavors of the broth really well, which is why it’s one of the most popular vegetables in Asian cooking. In particular, Korean kimchi is traditionally made from Napa cabbage.

Why is it called Napa cabbage

And in case you were wondering why it’s called “Napa” cabbage, the reason is not that it’s grown in Napa, California (that was one of my first thoughts), but the word actually comes from the Japanese word referring to vegetable leaves.

This is not a Traditional Asian Recipe

Napa cabbage has become so widespread that many people (including me) are making non-traditional recipes using it. So, just to warn you, if you’re looking for an authentic Chinese recipe for Napa cabbage, then this is NOT it. But if you’re looking for a quick, delicious way to cook an amazing vegetable, then THIS IS IT!

stewed napa cabbage recipe

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stewed napa cabbage recipe

Quick Stewed Napa Cabbage

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: Japanese
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 head of Napa cabbage, chop of the bottom end and then chop roughly into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 3 Tablespoons chicken broth (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • coconut oil to cook with

Instructions

  1. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to a large pot (one big enough to fit the entire cabbage).
  2. Add in the cabbage, tomatoes, and bell pepper, and cook on a medium-high heat. The cabbage will release a lot of water and will decrease in size.
  3. Add in the chicken broth after 10 minutes (optional).
  4. Cook for around 20 minutes until the cabbage is very soft and some of the water has evaporated.
  5. Add in salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Drain and serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup

Image credit: lithian (fotolia.com)