What Is Chinese Cabbage? Plus, How to Cook It

Of all the vegetables in the Brassica family, cabbage gets the least amount of love. Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are getting their much-deserved time in the spotlight, and once you figure out how to cook broccoli, it turns out perfectly every time. Cabbage, on the other hand, gets overlooked and relegated to its role as the crunchy component of coleslaw. Even when it is used, most of us simply reach for the familiar green orb in the produce aisle.

It’s time to move on from regular green cabbage and branch out to one of my favorite ingredients to add to Asian stir fries, salads and power bowls: Chinese cabbage.

What’s the difference between Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage?

Cabbages come in all different shapes and sizes, and Chinese cabbage is one of the four main varieties of cabbage (along with green, red and savoy). Regular cabbage grows into a round sphere, its leaves curling inward until they form a tight ball. Chinese cabbage, on the other hand, grows into an oblong shape, its leaves frilling out towards the edges. It’s light green with yellow tints, and has a sweeter flavor than its round cousins.

When it comes to nutrition, Chinese cabbage packs significantly more vitamins and minerals than regular cabbage. In addition to its high vitamin C and K levels, it’s also full of folic acid and antioxidants. You can use it as a natural way to reduce inflammation.

Is Chinese cabbage the same as Napa cabbage?

There are a few different kinds of Chinese cabbage, but Napa cabbage is the most popular in the group. Most grocery stores label Napa varieties as “Chinese cabbage,” but beware: they may also put bok choy, pak choy or other Asian greens under the same label.

If you accidentally end up with a bunch of bok choy, don’t worry. We can show you three tasty ways to cook this Asian green.

What is Chinese cabbage good for?

In addition to its health benefits, Chinese cabbage can be used in a variety of different dishes. You can eat it raw, shredding it and adding it to tacos, salads or power bowls. Feel free to swap it in for any recipe that calls for green cabbage; its sweet flavor makes it particularly delicious in coleslaw recipes. You can also add it to salads or sandwiches to add crunch and depth of flavor.

No matter how you prepare it, you’ll love the soft texture and sweet flavor of Chinese cabbage!

Find more cabbage recipes to help you cook this underrated vegetable

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Cabbage Roll Casserole

I layer cabbage with tomato sauce and ground beef lasagna-style to create a hearty casserole that tastes like cabbage rolls but without all the work. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia

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Warm Cabbage, Fennel and Pear Salad

This crunchy salad makes an elegant first course or side, but it's hearty enough to be an entree when paired with a crusty artisan bread. We love it served warm. —Grace Voltolina, Westport, Connecticut

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Egg Roll Noodle Bowl

We love Asian egg rolls, but they can be challenging to make. Simplify everything with this deconstructed egg roll in a bowl recipe made on the stovetop. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

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Favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage

It may be the most famous dish to eat on St. Patrick's Day, but this Irish-American corned beef recipe is a favorite at our table all year long. This is how to make corned beef and cabbage. —Evelyn Kenney, Trenton, New Jersey

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Pineapple-Papaya Slaw

This is no ordinary coleslaw! Bursting with flavor from fresh fruit, cilantro and red bell pepper, it just may become your new picnic mainstay. For easier preparation, buy packaged shredded cabbage. If you can't find papaya, substitute mango. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Grilled Cabbage

I don't really like cabbage, but I fixed this recipe and couldn't believe how good it was! We threw some burgers on the grill and our dinner was complete. I never thought I'd skip dessert because I was full from eating too much cabbage! —Elizabeth Wheeler, Thornville, Ohio

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Broccoli Slaw

Here's my favorite twist on broccoli salad. It's so easy to make and has an irresistible tangy crunch. —Konny Thomas, Citrus Heights, California

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Pork Shepherd's Pie

Of all the shepherd's pie recipes I've tried through the years, this version is my favorite. Although I live alone, I enjoy cooking and baking for friends and family. —Mary Arthurs, Etobicoke, Ontario

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German Red Cabbage

Sunday afternoons were a time for family gatherings when I was a kid. While the uncles played cards, the aunts made German treats such as this traditional red cabbage. —Jeannette Heim, Dunlap, Tennessee

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Contest-Winning Cajun Cabbage

Looking for a different treatment for cabbage? Try this spicy cheese-topped dish that I adapted from a friend's recipe. I added a little of this and that until it tasted the way I wanted. Not only do my husband and kids like it, I get rave reviews when I make it for company or church functions. —Bobbie Soileau, Opelousas, Louisiana

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Pennsylvania Dutch Coleslaw

My mother used to make this salad on holidays. With all the cabbage that is grown here in the Northwest, the recipe is a real natural for us! —Deb Darr, Falls City, Oregon

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Cabbage Roll Skillet

Have a happy helping of this quicker take on something our grandmothers would make. We serve it over brown rice. It also freezes well. —Susan Chickness, Pictou County, Nova Scotia

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Roasted Cabbage & Onions

I roast veggies to bring out their sweetness, and it works wonders with onions and cabbage. The piquant vinegar-mustard sauce makes this dish similar to a slaw. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

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Baja Fish Tacos

Crisp mahi mahi pans out beautifully when dressed up with fresh lime, cilantro and smoky adobo. One bite and you’ll be hooked on these baja fish tacos! —Brooke Keller, Lexington, Kentucky

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Apple Walnut Slaw

A co-worker shared this slaw recipe with me. Now it's a favorite at my house, too. Apples, walnuts and raisins are a fun way to dress up coleslaw. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Salmon Burgers with Tangy Slaw

I thought I’d made salmon every way you can make it, until now. The tangy slaw, made with fennel and avocado, adds another layer of flavor that goes surprisingly well with salmon and other seafood. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

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German-Style Cabbage and Beans

This is one of my greatest hits as a potluck dish at church suppers. If you use some red cabbage, it will have very festive colors, light pink with green. It looks so pretty.—Winifred Winch, Wetmore, Michigan

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Cabbage and Beef Soup

When I was a little girl, I helped my parents work the fields of their small farm. Lunchtime was always a treat when Mother picked fresh vegetables from the garden and simmered them in her big soup pot. We loved making this delicious recipe. —Ethel Ledbetter, Canton, North Carolina

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Vietnamese Crunchy Chicken Salad

When I lived in Cleveland I would eat at a really good Vietnamese restaurant that had a dish I couldn't get enough of. Since I had it so frequently, I figured out the components and flavors and created my own easy-to-make version. Everyone who's tasted it loves it. —Erin Schillo, Northfield, Ohio

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Midwestern Meat Pies

When I moved to the Midwest in 1966, I discovered many ethnic foods that I had never heard of before. One of my friends introduced me to this runza recipe, and it quickly became a popular dish with my family. —Dolly Croghan, Mead, Nebraska

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Colcannon Potatoes

Every Irish family has its own colcannon recipe, since it's a classic dish. My recipe comes from my father's family in Ireland. It's part of my St. Pat's menu, along with lamb chops, carrots and soda bread. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon

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Corned Beef Stir-Fry

The celery seed really comes through in this colorful combination of carrots, cabbage and corned beef. A woman at church shared the recipe with me. My husband and son love its subtle sweetness. —Alesah Padgett, Franklin, Georgia

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Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage

Preparing stuffed cabbage rolls can be time-consuming, but this version with butternut squash has the classic flavors —and it’s table ready in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Slow-Cooker Kalua Pork & Cabbage

My slow cooker pork has four ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep. The result tastes just like the kalua pig slow-roasted all day in an underground oven. —Rholinelle DeTorres, San Jose, California

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Slow-Cooker Golombki

I modified my mom's classic Polish dish to fit my hectic life. Instead of boiling the cabbage and then filling it with beef, I just toss the ingredients in the slow cooker. It's much easier and tastes just as good. —Mary Walker, Clermont, Florida

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Campers' Coleslaw

Crispy and crunchy, this old family slaw recipe makes a refreshing side dish for picnics and parties. —Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio

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Hearty Beef & Cabbage Pockets

I found a similar recipe many years ago and experimented with my own version until I had it just right. If you can't find the frozen rolls, you can use a homemade dough. —Elaine Clark, Wellington, Kansas

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Great Northern Bean Stew

This thick and hearty stew with great northern beans is sure to chase the winter chills away. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

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Meat Buns

On the outside, these golden buns resemble ordinary dinner rolls. But one bite reveals the tasty, cheesy beef filling inside. —Sharon Leno, Keansburg, New Jersey

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One-Pot Unstuffed Cabbage

Here is one of my favorite ways to cook and enjoy cabbage. It has all the good flavor of regular cabbage rolls, but it's a lot less bother to make. In fact, it's a one-pot meal! —Mrs. Bernard Snow, Lewiston, Michigan

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Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing

This is the kind of salad you can keep in the fridge for a couple days and it just gets better. I just add the sunflower seeds before serving to keep the crunch. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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Chicken and Asian Slaw

This meal is always a hit, and it goes together so quickly. Sesame ginger salad dressing adds refreshing flavor to this pairing of broiled chicken and an exotic homemade coleslaw. —Melissa Jelinek, Apple Valley, Minnesota

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Makeover Reuben Melt

This twist on a classic Reuben keeps the corned beef and uses a sauce made with Swiss (and plenty of thousand-island flavor). Fresh slaw on top replaces the sauerkraut. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Beef & Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

This recipe is special to me because it’s an easy one-pot meal that tastes like you spent the whole day in the kitchen. My family loves it. —Lynn Bowen, Geraldine, Alabama

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Dijon Pork Chops with Cabbage and Fennel

While living in Switzerland for a few years, my friends introduced me to an area renowned for their cabbage, pork and potato dishes. I decided to try a cabbage and fennel combination and believe they complement each other well. The juniper berries are an addition that I learned after many years of cooking this recipe and adds a special flavor to the cabbage.—Grace Voltolina, Westport, Connecticut

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The post What Is Chinese Cabbage? Plus, How to Cook It appeared first on Taste of Home.

Lindsay D. Mattison