This Sesame Braised Cabbage is the only Asian cabbage recipe you need in your life. So addictive you will eat the whole head. Cabbage is a humble, underrated vegetable that needs to be in the spotlight. It takes on every flavor imaginable and goes well with butter. The best part is its health benefits. It is healthy and very low on calories.
Braising cabbage will ensure its tender inside and crispy on the outside.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Cabbage - you can use red cabbage or even savoy cabbage.
Butter - cabbage and butter goes hand in hand. However, feel free to omit it if you don't want to add it. The flavor will be altered a bit without butter.
Sesame oil - This flavor gives it a ton of flavor. I like to use Toasted Sesame oil if I am feeling fancy.
Oyster Sauce - The umami in this dish is the oyster sauce.
Soy Sauce - Tamari or coconut aminos should work
Sambal or Chili Oil - Any chili oil would be great in it
Honey - Sweetener to balance all the flavor.
Equipment
- Cast Iron pan with a lid
- Medium size bowl for the sauce
- Measuring tools
- Air fryer
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Combine the sauce ingredients.
- Cut the cabbage into quarters. Leave the core. The core will keep it from falling apart.
- Place the quartered cabbage in the air fryer, and spray both sides with oil.
- Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Pour half of the sauce on top. Flip again and pour the remaining sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
Pan Fry Instructions
- Add avocado oil and butter to a cast iron pan with a lid on medium-high heat.
- Add the cabbage and fry it until the edges are crispy. Salt and pepper during this time. 5 minutes.
- Once all sides are crispy, add a little water to create steam to cook through the cabbage.
- Cover with a lid and braise for 10 minutes.
- Make your sauce. In a bowl, combine the sesame sauce ingredients.
- Check the cabbage with a knife if the middle is tender. If not, add 5 more minutes of cooking.
- When the cabbage is ready, pour the sauce all over and saute until the sauce has been incorporated well inside the cabbage.
- Serve and enjoy!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store your leftover Sesame Braised Cabbage in an airtight container.
Reheat in a microwave, a skillet, or, my favorite, the air fryer for a little extra crispiness and texture.
Asian Cabbage - FAQs
Cabbage is incredibly healthy for you. It is low in calories and is vegetable-rich, so you will stay full longer.
Cabbage is a very versatile vegetable. When braising and wanting to keep its shape, cut it in wedges, do not cut the core out – this will keep everything intact.
What to serve with Sesame Asian Cabbage
Here are a few options that will be perfect for this dish.
Sesame Braised Cabbage
This addictive Sesame Braised Cabbage is a winner. This humble vegetable is so tender with crispy edges and doused in an amazing sesame sauce. Pure heaven in your mouth.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
Ingredients
1 full head of cabbage quartered
1 tbsp avocado oil
2 tbsp butter
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp of water for steaming the cabbage
Sesame Sauce:
2 tbsp of oyster sauce
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 stalk of green onion
1 tbsp sambal or chili oil (optional)
2 tbsp of water
Instructions
- Add avocado oil to a cast iron pan with a lid on medium-high heat.
- Add the cabbage and fry it until the edges are crispy. Add the butter. Salt and pepper during this time.
- Once all sides are crispy, add a little water to create steam to cook through the cabbage.
- Cover with a lid and braise for 5 minutes on lower heat.
- Make your sauce. In a bowl, combine the sesame sauce ingredients.
- Check the cabbage with a knife if the middle is tender. If not, add 5 more minutes of cooking.
- When the water evaporates and the cabbage is ready, pour the sauce all over and saute until the sauce has been incorporated well inside the cabbage.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Combine the sauce ingredients.
- Cut the cabbage into quarters. Leave the core. The core will keep it from falling apart.
- Place the quartered cabbage in the air fryer, and spray both sides with oil.
- Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Pour half of the sauce on top. Flip again and pour the remaining sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: air fry
- Cuisine: asian
John Druin says
My favorite Cabbage recipe ❤️
Kevin says
This recipe is wildly, ridiculously delicious! Thank you!
I've made it a few times now and recently I've started adding a bit of miso to the sauce and garnishing with bonito flakes at the end. Life-changing stuff.
Carmen Spillette says
wow! thank you so much.
Ada says
Love the flavor and umami sauce you made, really levels up the bland veggies.
Kevin says
Just made this for my wife and she said it was potentially the best thing I've ever cooked for her (I was a chef for about 15 years)
Carmen Spillette says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is the best comment ever. Thank you!
Brenda Lane-Turner says
Just made this for the second time and it is simply delicious. Can't wait to try other recipes.
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you Brenda!!!
Veronica Anderson says
YUM 😋 Can't get enough of this cabbage!!!!
Carmen says
Thank you
Carrie says
I eat this all by itself for dinner!
Carmen says
Thank you! I am so happy you loved it.
Kim Beverley Burnside says
I am making this right now and it smells delicious can’t wait to eat so umami and I actually added some unagi sauce that I love , thanks for this awesome recipe definitely a keeper
Carmen says
That's amazing to hear! Thank you for making it.
Viv says
Looks wonderful but I can’t do the oyster sauce. Any fish-fee subs that might work? Some mushroom-y thing?
Carmen says
There is vegetarian oyster sauce! It is made with mushrooms. Hope that helps.