Home » Vault » Stir Fried Napa Cabbage
Stir Fried Napa Cabbage
I LOVE cabbage. I think it’s the most underrated ingredient when cooked properly. Here we stir fry Napa cabbage to get it tender-crisp in minutes, before soaking it up in a savory glaze of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and dried chili. It’s slightly sweet, tangy, spicy, and deeply aromatic. You can serve it hot as a side dish, spoon it over rice with a jammy egg, or eat it cold straight from the fridge (that might be my favorite way). *Best Practices* – Slice the cabbage into wide strips to preserve texture. It should soften slightly but retain a crisp bite. – Keep the aromatics moving when you add them—garlic burns fast. If anything starts to brown too quickly, reduce the heat slightly before adding the cabbage. – Napa cabbage cooks quickly. Stir-fry over high heat so it wilts evenly without becoming soggy. – The slurry gives just enough body to the sauce to cling to each piece. If you want a thicker glaze, double the cornstarch and water. – Swap in or add other leafy vegetables like bok choy, savoy cabbage, or even kale for variation. – Add-ins like mushrooms, thinly sliced carrots, or snow peas work well too—just add them after the aromatics and before the cabbage. – For more heat, use Sichuan chilies or crumble in a dried chili halfway through cooking. You can also add a splash of chili oil at the end. – This is great for meal prep. Store it in the fridge and enjoy cold, rewarmed, or room temp.
Ingredients
Method
More from the Vault
Homemade Snickers Bar
I love Snickers bars, and I had no idea how easy it is to make them from scratch! No complicated steps, barely…
French Brioche
Brioche is one of the richest doughs I’ve ever made, yet fluffy like a cloud. Unlike the common assumption, th…
Vodka Pasta
Vodka pasta is one of those delicious dishes which is faaar greater than the sum of its parts. This is a tough…
One Pot Shawarma Rice
This a super easy one pot dish inspired by one of my favorite foods on Earth. I marinate my chicken thighs in…
Flour Tortillas
What's up, tortilla lovers! If you're a fan of Mexican food (and who isn't?), you know that nothing beats the…
Sheetpan Chicken Kefta
You guys went bonkers for my sheetpan kefta recipe, so I went ahead and developed a lighter version with chick…
Babish's Ultimate Chicken Parm
A couple of subtle but noticeable changes to the orthodoxy of chicken parm make this a luxurious and addiction…
Chicken Parmesan
Today on basics, we are making chicken parmesan!