Hot and Sour Napa Cabbage

Vegetarian TImes

Serves 4

30 minutes or fewer

This classic Chinese side dish can be ready in less than 15 minutes, slicing time included. It goes well with milder non-Asian main dishes too.

• 1 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
• 2 whole dried chiles de arbol, thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
• ½ tsp. minced fresh ginger
• 1 head napa cabbage, leaves cut into 1-inch-thick slices (2 lb.)
• 3 Tbs. Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
• 3 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
• ½ tsp. sugar
• 2 green onions, green parts thinly sliced (2 Tbs.), for garnish

Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chiles, garlic, and ginger, and stir-fry 1 minute. Add cabbage, and cook 30 seconds. Stir in vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until cabbage is crisp-tender. Season with salt, if desired, and give one last shake or stir. Serve garnished with green onions.

Nutrient rich cabbage is loaded with phytochemicals like indole-3-carbinol, lutein, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates, which help protect against cancers and help reduce LDL levels in the blood.  Fresh cabbage is also an excellent source of vitamin C with over 60% RDA per 100g. 

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

What did you do with your cabbage from last week? One of my favorite ways to eat cabbage is as sauerkraut, especially in a delicious Reuben sandwich. Not only do I enjoy the taste of sauerkraut, but the healthy bacteria found in fermented foods supports my immune system through flu-season. If you don't have the time or palette for such a delicious way to prepare cabbage, consider this amazing recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls.


Serves 4 to 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Filling

• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1-2 clove garlic, chopped finely
• 10 ounces. crimini mushrooms, chopped
• ½ cup dry white wine
• ¼ cup fresh herbs, such as thyme or rosemary
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 8-12 large napa cabbage leaves, rinsed well

For the Sauce

• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 cup chopped white onions
• 1 ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 cup vegetable stock, store bought or homemade
• ¾ cup (12 T.) tomato paste
• 2 T. palm sugar (or another low-glycemic choice)
• 2 t. Herbes de Provence, or other dried herbs of choice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Make the filling. In a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat, heat the oil, adding the onion and garlic once hot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are slightly tender and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes more. Add the wine and herbs, bring mixture to a boil and cook until the almost all of the liquid is evaporated, about 2-3 minutes.

2. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a food processor and process until smooth. Add the ground almonds and process until combined. Set aside.

3. Bring several cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized stock pot or sauce pan. In a colander or steam basket set over the pot, steam the cabbage leaves until just soft and wilted slightly, about 3-4 minutes, working in two batches if necessary. (Essentially, your leaves should be soft enough that they will not crack when you roll them, but not so soft that they tear.) Transfer the leaves to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.

4. Make the sauce. In the same skillet you used for the mushroom mixture, heat the oil over medium heat, adding the onions once hot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add the wine, bring the liquid to a boil and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by one third. Add the stock, tomato paste, sugar and Herbes de Provence, stirring until well combined. Turn the heat down to low and let the sauce simmer while you assemble the rolls.

5. Assemble the rolls. Place several tablespoons of the mushroom filling about 1 inch from the bottom of a cabbage leaf, fold in the sides and roll up the leaf holding in the sides as you would with a burrito. Repeat with the remaining rolls and place seam-side down in the simmering sauce. Cook the rolls for 30 minutes, stirring the sauce occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, ladling extra sauce over top.