Chinese Napa Cabbage Soup

I might be bias, but Chinese soups are some of the best soups to ever exist! Especially this particular napa cabbage soup. Just like my Chinese spinach soup, this soup is warm, flavorsome and comforting without being overly heavy.

💚Why you will love this recipe

• Super comforting and packed with Asian flavors - Featuring tender veggies cooked in a flavorful broth, you will definitely be impress by how good this Chinese cabbage soup taste!
• Only 7 ingredients needed - We are keeping seasonings simple here, allowing the flavor and texture of napa cabbage to shine.
• Wholesome and nourishing - Packed full of nutritious and fiber-rich veggies, this soup is a delicious way to get your 5 a day.
• Naturally meat-free and vegan - Hence, this amazing Chinese cabbage soup can be enjoyed by both vegans and meat-eaters alike.

Taste

Like most Chinese vegetables, napa cabbage don't have much flavor on its own. Anyhow, it will absorb flavors and seasonings readily like a sponge.

When cooked, napa cabbage has a mild sweetness, making it a great base ingredient for soups.

When cooked under high heat for a short period of time, like in stir-fries, they will be crisp and crunchy. However, in this recipe, we will be simmering it until soft and tender!

Where to buy

Chinese cabbage is one of the most common Chinese vegetables of all times, and can be easily found in most well stocked grocery stores. You can also find them in most Asian markets. Choose one with fresh-looking green leaves and a plump, firm core. Avoid those that look wilted or are eaten by bugs.

How to prepare

As we will only be using a few leaves in this Chinese cabbage soup, I usually just peel off the leaves individually. Then, rinse them well before slicing them into bite size pieces (about 2-3 inches long).

🧄What you will need

📃Notes/substitutions

• Soy sauce - Use gluten-free ones if needed, can also be substituted with tamari.
• Shaoxing wine - Also known as Chinese cooking wine. You can use mirin or sake in place.
• Oil-free - Use ¼ cup of broth or water to saute your garlic, and omit sesame oil.

🔪How to make

Heat up a tablespoon or so of neutral oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot. Once heated, place in garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant.

Next, add in napa cabbage, carrot and broth. Bring mixture to a boil, then lower heat to a gentle simmer. Place the lid on and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every once in a while, until veggies have softened.

Remove from heat and stir in soy sauce, shaoxing wine and sesame oil. Give it a taste and add more soy sauce, if needed. Serve Chinese cabbage soup while warm!

✔Helpful tips

• You can use bouillon cubes or stock powder in place of vegetable broth. Heat up 4 cups of water, then add in cubes or powder. Stir until it has dissolved before adding in veggies.
• Use a large enough Dutch oven or soup pot to prevent soup from boiling over while cooking. I am using a 5.5qt Dutch oven.
• If you prefer your napa cabbage crunchy, reduce cooking time by 5-8 minutes. Separate it immediately from soup until ready to serve to prevent cabbage from cooking further.

✨Variations

Miso broth - Replace broth with equal amount of water. After vegetables are done cooking, turn the heat off and stir in 2-3 tablespoons of miso paste. You can also stir in a handful of wakame seaweed.

For protein - Cube up some silken or firm tofu and stir them in in the last few minutes of cooking.

To make it heartier - Cook up some noodles and stir them into the soup to make Chinese noodle soup. Udon, soba and rice noodles are some amazing choices.

Corn - Toss in chunks of corn on cobs along with the rest of the veggies to add extra flavor and sweetness to this Chinese cabbage soup.

Spicy - You can stir in 1-2 teaspoons of chili flakes.

🍚How to serve

• Rice - The best way to serve your Chinese cabbage soup is with a bowl of freshly steamed rice, be it brown or white rice. For a lower carb version, you can use cauliflower or broccoli rice instead.
• Noodles - Noodle dishes like a simple rice vermicelli stir fry or teriyaki soba stir fry will pair beautifully with this soup.
• Other Chinese dishes - If you are serving a crowd, go all out by making some vegan orange chicken, tofu chop suey, or some sweet and sour chickpeas!
• Bread - Lastly, you can pair napa cabbage soup with your favorite breads or flatbreads.

❔Commonly asked questions

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