What is Chinese cabbage?
Overview:
Chinese cabbage is a leafy vegetable often used in Chinese cuisine. The Pekinensis group (Napa cabbage) and Chinensis group (bok choy) may refer to cultivar groups.
Chinese cabbage is also known as napa, napa cabbage, pe-sai, wangbok or chihli. It is an important vegetable in China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Grown as an annual crop, most cultivars are biennial and produce tight, compact, cylindrical heads.
Both of these vegetables are diverse cultivars or subspecies of turnips and belong to the same genus as Western staples such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Both have many variations in name, spelling, and scientific classification, especially in the case of bok choy cultivars.
The cabbage has many health benefits, moreover, this cabbage can be used in various dishes. You can eat it raw, slice it and add it to various recipes, salads or power bowls.
Feel free to swap it in any recipe for Chinese cabbage; Its sweet flavor makes it especially delicious in coleslaw recipes. You can 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 the cabbage.
The difference between Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage
The Cabbage comes in many different shapes and sizes, and The cabbage is one of the four main varieties of cabbage (including green, red and savoy). Regular cabbage takes the shape of a round sphere, its leaves curling inwards until they form a tight ball. Chinese cabbage, on the other hand, grows in an oblong shape, with its leaves drooping towards the ends. It is light green with a yellow tinge, and has a sweeter taste 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 is full of folic acid and antioxidants. You can use it as a natural way to reduce inflammation.
Chinese cabbage nutrition
Amount per Serving Size: 100 grams)
Calories: 12
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 65mg
Total Carbs: 2g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Total Sugars: 1g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 224mcg
Vitamin C: 45mg
Vitamin D: 0mcg (0iu)
Vitamin K : 46mcg
Folate :66mcg
Calcium :46mg
Iron: 1.2mg
Potassium: 252mg
Health Benefits
-
Helps build strong bones
Chinese cabbage, which contains calcium and vitamin K, is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. While vitamin K promotes fat breakdown and blood clotting, calcium also helps improve neuron function. A cup of bok choy contains 16% calcium and 64% vitamin K.
-
Fights anemia and fatigue
If your body doesn’t make enough hemoglobin, you may experience fatigue and lack of energy. Chinese cabbage is rich in iron, which helps the body produce hemoglobin for the blood. The vitality of the body can be greatly improved by the fact that hemoglobin transports oxygen throughout the body.
-
Helps control blood pressure
This vegetable provides a good source of calcium and potassium, both of which are essential for lowering blood pressure. Contains low levels of sodium, which is associated with low blood pressure. According to research, reducing sodium in the diet can lower blood pressure by up to 8 mm Hg.
-
Heart and blood vessel health
This green, energizing vegetable is also good for the heart. Chinese cabbage has blood pressure-lowering properties, which are important for controlling blood pressure.
-
Slimming down
Despite having a ton of fiber, Chinese cabbage is low in calories. Chinese cabbage can be eaten alongside virtually any meal as well as a nutritional supplement without significantly increasing calorie intake. As a result, it acts as a great natural aid to promote and maintain weight loss. Making green juice with fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and bananas is a common method of making Chinese cabbage.
-
Boost immune system strength
This vegetable is a significant source of vitamin C, which acts as a booster to help the body’s immune system. Additionally, vitamin C helps the body’s defenses against infections and illnesses, including the common cold and gum disease.
-
Eye health
This vegetable is great for your eyes because it contains beta-carotene, which has been shown to protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.
-
Reproductive health
The vegetable is rich in fiber, which is important for the development of a healthy digestive system. Eating enough fiber helps to cleanse the body’s digestive system of accumulated waste.
-
Helps treat skin conditions and infections
The vegetable has important antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can help treat a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, acne, and pimples. Scars, wrinkles, skin discoloration and skin allergies are some of the skin conditions that can be treated by taking this cabbage. Chinese cabbage rejuvenates the skin and gives it a fine, silky texture.
-
Promotes hair growth
This vegetable contains vitamins C and E, both of which have been shown to support and maintain healthy hair growth. In addition, vegetables are rich in iron, which helps increase the body’s ferritin levels. Recurrent hair loss is known to be countered by ferritin.
Chinese cabbage recipes
Chinese cabbage is a sweet, crisp, tasty vegetable that can be eaten raw or added to sandwiches, salads and burgers.
Like other varieties of cabbage, napa can be used to make coleslaw. Napa cabbage, commonly known as “pae-tsai,” is a well-liked vegetable used in a fermented Korean dish known as kimchi.
In China and other East Asian regions, to produce fried rice, egg rice noodles, chow mein (stir-fried noodles), etc., it is used as a stir-fry along with onion, garlic, bell pepper and green pepper. With steamed rice and soy/tomato sauce.
Both bok choy and napa are excellent vegetables that are often included in stir-fries, soups, stuffing, etc. in contemporary cuisine.
Super Easy Stir-Fry Chinese cabbage recipe
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound shredded Chinese cabbage
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
Directions
Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until browned, 3 to 5 seconds.
Stir in cabbage until coated in oil; Cover the wok and cook for 1 minute.
Pour in soy sauce; Cook and stir for another minute. Increase the heat to high and stir in the Chinese cooking wine. Cook and stir until the cabbage is tender, about 2 minutes more.
Chinese cabbage salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
14 ounces shredded red and green cabbage
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup chopped yellow pepper
3 whole green onions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- Can drain mandarin oranges well
1 cup chow mein noodles
1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds
1/3 cup chopped red onion
For the Sesame Dressing:
1 clove garlic finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger finely minced
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
When you are ready to serve, toss together the dressing with the salad and serve immediately.
References: