By Jacques Pepin
Updated Oct. 12, 2023
- Total Time
- 10 minutes
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Cook Time
- 5 minutes
- Rating
- 4(289)
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
Yield:6 servings
- 1large or 2 small Napa cabbages (about 2 pounds), cut horizontally into 1½-inch chunks (yielding about 14 to 15 cups, lightly packed)
- 3tablespoons safflower or canola oil
- 2tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½teaspoon salt
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
114 calories; 11 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 281 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
Step
1
In a sink filled with cold water, wash the cabbage, lifting it in and out of the water, and drain in a colander. Heat the oil in a saucepan until hot, add the butter and, as soon as it melts, add the wet cabbage. Cover and cook over medium-to-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cabbage is wilted and tender but still slightly firm. The cabbage will sizzle initially but then will stew as the water emerges from it. Mix in the pepper and salt and serve immediately.
Ratings
4
out of 5
289
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Private Notes
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Cooking Notes
Will
Nice and super easy. The butter really plays a prominent role. The suggestion to add a little bit of soy sauce made it tasty too.
Anne
A simple recipe that I halved, using 1 tbsp of oil and one of butter, it was very good! I used it as a side to a sous vide prepared pork chop w/ a cider caramel sauce. It was a perfect accompaniment!
susie
crazy how super simple recipes like this can taste so transcendant.i resisted urge to add garlic, ginger and soy to this. i'm glad i gave this a try exactly as written. great use of csa napa cabbage!
Susanne
Wonderful vegetable side dish to add to the repertoire! Followed the recipe exactly and found it to be very easy and fast. Silky buttery texture. Served it with meatloaf and roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious!
Jane M.
Yes, no additions or changes would improve this simple and excellent recipe. Other flavors could create something else. It is just right as it is.
Jennie
Make sure to cut the cabbage into bite-size pieces (I learned the hard way). This is surprisingly nice, and certainly an easy way to use up a gigantic Napa cabbage.
Es
Perfect with roast duck! Very easy. The cut-up cabbage keeps its shape so it looks nice on the plate. Plenty of pepper was nice with the duck but you could add any spice that goes with your meal. Napa cabbage is relatively mild but it does have a little bite.
one lucky lass
What a nice simple recipe? This was amazingly good despite its simplicity. I accidentally left it on the heat a bit too long and it was it burnt but it still tasted delicious despite there being some brown spots on the cabbage.
Mezzodiva
Really easy, siimple and delicious. I wouldn't change a thing - it lets the gentle taste of Napa cabbage shine.
DrDre2008
This almost stole our St. Paddy's celebration. I was tempted to add this or that per comments, but resisting was a good decision. So elegantly delicious along side a vegetarian shepherd's pie.
Jennie
Napa cabbage is challenging at the best of times for me, and I found this treatment (which I followed to the letter) resulted in a watery, tasteless vegetable side dish with the occasional whisper of butter (mostly lost in all the cabbage juice that remained even after I strained it). Nevertheless, the Napa cabbage is no longer sitting in my vegetable drawer, so that's something.
Jennie
Make sure to cut the cabbage into bite-size pieces (I learned the hard way). This is surprisingly nice, and certainly an easy way to use up a gigantic Napa cabbage.
Deborah Christie
Found this recipe bland - prefer to use Napa cabbage in spicy soup such as «hot pot». Just my 2 cents …
DrDre2008
This almost stole our St. Paddy's celebration. I was tempted to add this or that per comments, but resisting was a good decision. So elegantly delicious along side a vegetarian shepherd's pie.
coffeespoon
Very surprised by this recipe. Amazingly delicious and so simple - we had no idea napa cabbage could taste this delicious!
Kristy
Love this dish. It needs nothing more than the recipe calls for. The simple deliciousness of good French cooking. I use vegan butter and some flavorful olive oil as I'm dairy-free.
Rick
I added some older dryer prunes coarsely chopped during the steaming stage. I think any dried fruit would jazz up this staple.
Mezzodiva
Really easy, siimple and delicious. I wouldn't change a thing - it lets the gentle taste of Napa cabbage shine.
Susanne
Wonderful vegetable side dish to add to the repertoire! Followed the recipe exactly and found it to be very easy and fast. Silky buttery texture. Served it with meatloaf and roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious!
susie
crazy how super simple recipes like this can taste so transcendant.i resisted urge to add garlic, ginger and soy to this. i'm glad i gave this a try exactly as written. great use of csa napa cabbage!
Jane M.
Yes, no additions or changes would improve this simple and excellent recipe. Other flavors could create something else. It is just right as it is.
JJS
I had a head of green cabbage so I used it. I had to pull the strips of cabbage apart while washing. Napa would be much easier to process. But the flavor was wonderful and the texture silky. I will make it with Napa cabbage next time.
one lucky lass
What a nice simple recipe? This was amazingly good despite its simplicity. I accidentally left it on the heat a bit too long and it was it burnt but it still tasted delicious despite there being some brown spots on the cabbage.
Es
Perfect with roast duck! Very easy. The cut-up cabbage keeps its shape so it looks nice on the plate. Plenty of pepper was nice with the duck but you could add any spice that goes with your meal. Napa cabbage is relatively mild but it does have a little bite.
Will
Nice and super easy. The butter really plays a prominent role. The suggestion to add a little bit of soy sauce made it tasty too.
Anne
A simple recipe that I halved, using 1 tbsp of oil and one of butter, it was very good! I used it as a side to a sous vide prepared pork chop w/ a cider caramel sauce. It was a perfect accompaniment!
Don
Thanks for this great tip.
Anne .G
how do you make cider caramel sauce , Anne?
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