When you're browsing the produce section for healthy salad ideas, fresh napa cabbage always stands out.
Its compact 12-inch head and bright green, white-veined leaves make it hard to miss and even harder to resist.
This is a vegetable that delivers everything you want in a salad ingredient:
Excellent value, great shelf life, impressive nutritional numbers and exciting recipe versatility.
Whether you favor whole heads or napa cabbage hearts, they both deserve a place at your table.
Let's unwrap the veggie's basics and explore seven innovative salad recipes starring napa cabbage.
Why Is Napa Cabbage Ideal for Salads?
It's an essential element in traditional kimchi. Whether you call it Chinese cabbage or napa, this member of the Brassicaceae family works well in countless entrees and sides.
Napa cabbage is perfect in salads for the same reasons we love it in so many other dishes. The combination of crunch, mildly sweet flavor and a bounty of crisp leaves make napa a natural for tossing with all types of fresh produce.
Napa cabbage hearts serve up additional inspiration for creating new salad recipes. Sliced into wedges, the hearts offer delicious possibilities for innovative veggie combinations.
Whether you're making salads for brunch or dinner, napa cabbage is an ideal recipe starter.
What Makes Napa Cabbage So Nutritious?
Boasting a nutrient density score of 92%, napa weighs in as a very healthy leafy vegetable.
For example, it contains high levels of bioactive phytochemicals, which may decrease the risk of stroke, hypertension and diabetes.
The cruciferous veggie packs a variety of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals into every serving. Napa cabbage adds an array of health benefits to fresh salads and only 9 calories per cup.
How to Prep Napa Cabbage for the Perfect Salad
The veining, texture, and size of napa cabbage leaves set them apart from other salad ingredients. You don't want to tear them into bite-sized pieces by hand, but napa prep does start with a hands-on touch.
Preparing napa cabbage for salads is easy when you follow these basics.
Start With a Snap
For small salads, cut the napa head in halves or quarters.
Wrap unused portions in plastic, and store in the refrigerator.
Gently snap leaves off the remaining base with your hands.
Rinse Before Slicing
Run leaves under cold water, using your fingers to loosen any debris.
You can also toss and rinse napa leaves in a colander.
A 10-minute soak in a large bowl of cold water works well too.
Use a salad spinner to quick-dry leaves, or drain on paper towels.
Rinse napa hearts using the same methods, and drain cut-side down.
Slice as Bites or Strips
Stack two or three rinsed leaves together, and cut in half crosswise.
Slice the leafy green from the white vein, and separate the two.
Cut the veins into small bite-sized pieces and the leaves into larger pieces.
For slaw salads, slice the stacked leaves crosswise into thin strips.
7 Napa Cabbage Salad Recipes You'll Love to Serve
1. Purple Napa Cabbage Salad
Liven up the salad bowl with a burst of bright colors and tastes. Toss purple napa cabbage with dark red radicchio and pink watermelon radish.
A homemade Champagne and Dijon vinaigrette dresses up the appetizing presentation.
2. Warm Chinese Cabbage Salad
Complement the crunch of napa cabbage with skillet-toasted ramen noodles. Add sesame seeds and blanched almonds to the noodles just before serving.
Crown shredded napa with the mixture, and enjoy warming up with this one-of-a-kind Chinese cabbage salad.
3. Napa, Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
A garlic and dill dressing brings out the best in a nutritious melange of fresh veggies. Thin slices of sweet apple add an irresistible flavor contrast to the medley.
The salad is easy on busy kitchen schedules too, with a total prep time of just 20 minutes.
4. Napa, Pecan and Apple Salad
This is another recipe that pairs napa cabbage and apples. It's a cold-weather napa slaw made with thin slices of green apple and red onion.
A sprinkle of chopped pecans and a drizzle of Dijon vinaigrette finish the colorful salad.
5. Napa Hearts and Strawberries
Napa cabbage is a natural choice for summer salads too. Cool down with a bowl full of diced napa hearts, fresh strawberries, Persian cucumbers and sliced avocados.
Add a topping of chopped pistachios, and treat yourself to salad outside at a table in the shade.
6. Sliced Napa Salad With Spicy Peanut Dressing
Finish this napa, carrots and radicchio salad with a spicy peanut dressing, and enjoy the flavors of a classic Asian dish.
Make that dressing your very own by blending peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha and rice wine vinegar.
7. Napa Hearts, Avocados and Citrus
If your next dinner party needs a special centerpiece, this napa salad is a beautiful choice.
Arrange sliced napa cabbage hearts, tangerines, oranges and avocados on a large platter. Accent with sugar snap peas, garnish with sesame seeds, and splash on a little a miso citrus dressing.
Fresh Recipes You Can Use Every Day
Creating a dish that's delicious and nutritious is so satisfying. It's even better when you can take the recipe from prep to table in just a few minutes.
We hope these latest ideas are a great fit on your list of must-make salads. Our teams here at Hitchcock Farms are always happy to supply you with culinary inspiration and the freshest premium produce available.
FAQ
Can you eat Napa cabbage raw in a salad?
Yes, raw napa cabbage is a favorite salad ingredient, valued for its crisp texture and slightly sweet taste. Be sure to rinse the cabbage well and thoroughly drain it before using or wrapping it for storage in the refrigerator.
How long is napa cabbage good for in the fridge?
Wrapped in plastic, a napa cabbage head can keep for as long as two weeks. Sliced napa, stored in an airtight container, will stay fresh for at least three days. Raw napa keeps in the freezer for one to two months.
What can I use leftover napa cabbage for?
Use leftover raw napa as an ingredient in slaw or as a topping for burgers and tacos. You can also use it in stir-fry recipes, as a filling for dumplings, or as an addition to healthy smoothies.
