Sargent Choice Test Kitchen: Napa Cabbage Salad

To show the napa cabbage once it has dressing on it. The napa cabbage is yellow-green and the dressing is caramel brown.

Sargent Choice Napa Cabbage Salad
February 12, 2025

Why We Chose This Recipe

This dorm-friendly version of the Chinese classic napa cabbage salad is a no-cook salad perfect for dorm kitchens and includes ingredients that are affordable, tasty and health promoting. This version maintains the balance of savory and sweet with less added sugar.  

Recipe adapted from: CarryItLikeHarry
Recipe adapted by: Jerry Liang, BU Nutrition Student
Yield: Approximately 5 cups of salad

Ingredients

  • 1 small napa cabbage (or other cabbage varieties) 
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar  
  • 3 tbsp tahini (or sunflower butter for a nut-free option)  
  • 1 tsp honey 
  • 2 tsp sesame oil (or other oil like olive, grapeseed, canola, or vegetable)  
  • 1 tbsp aged black vinegar (or rice or apple cider vinegar)  
  • 1 TBSP reduced-sodium soy sauce  
  • 1 handful of mixed greens (optional) 

Directions

  1. Cut the napa cabbage in half vertically and use only the top leafy portion. Carefully peel off the leaves, avoiding tearing. Remove the thickest part of the stems with a small knife.
  2. While preparing the other ingredients, soak the leaves in a bowl of ice water to keep them crunchy.
  3. Whisk the sugar, tahini, honey, oil, vinegar, and soy sauce in a bowl until smooth.
  4. Drain the cabbage leaves well, ensuring they are dry, and toss them in the dressing in a large salad bowl with the mixed greens (optional) until they are well-coated.
  5. Let the salad sit for at least 5 minutes or longer to allow the flavors to meld and the cabbage to soften.

Recipe Notes

Aged Vinegar: Aged black vinegar has a rich, savory-sweet flavor. If unavailable, substitute with rice or apple cider vinegar for a tangy taste.

Napa cabbage salad has roots in Chinese imperial cuisine, where Napa cabbage was valued for its delicate texture and nutritional benefits. In ancient times, dishes made with Napa cabbage were often served to emperors as a symbol of prosperity and health.

 

To show the student preparing the ingredients for the napa cabbage. Aiden and another student are cutting the napa cabbage.
Aiden Healea- majoring in anthropology and economics- cuts the napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces.

What We Liked

  • Students loved the smell of the soy sauce combined with sunflower butter.
  • The combination of honey and soy sauce added a sweet and savory flavor to the salad!
  • We enjoyed the freshness of the napa cabbage salad.

Suggestions

  • Add protein (like grilled chicken or tofu) and a carbohydrate (like brown rice or quinoa) for a complete, filling meal.

Nutritional Value

  • Sunflower butter and tahini contain protein, which provides longer lasting satiety.
  • Both tahini and sunflower butter contain omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function and normal growth and development.
  • Tahini also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health.
  • Napa cabbage is a good source of fiber, vitamins C and K, and antioxidants that support immune function and overall health. Including vegetables, like cabbage, also help meals and snacks feel more filling and satisfying.
March 1st, 2024
Ashly Estrada, Nutrition Student