RecipesNapa Cabbage › Chinese Hot and Sour Napa Cabbage

Chinese Hot and Sour Napa Cabbage

A classic Sichuan stir-fried napa cabbage dish with dried chilies and black rice vinegar. The cabbage is cooked fast on high heat, retaining a pleasant crunch while absorbing the sweet, sour, and spicy sauce. A quick weeknight side that pairs brilliantly with rice.

18 min (10 min prep, 8 min cook)Serves 4easySidesvegan · dairy-free

Ingredients

  • 28 oz napa cabbage, cut into 2-inch squares
  • 6 dried red chilies
  • 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns (optional)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp black rice vinegaror rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

Contains: cereals gluten, sesame, soya, sulphites.

Method

  1. Mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.About 1 min
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Add the Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies. Fry for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add garlic, cook 30 more seconds.About 2 min
  3. Add the napa cabbage. Stir-fry on high heat for 4-5 minutes until the cabbage is just wilted but still has some crunch.About 5 min
  4. Pour in the sauce and toss for 1 minute. Drizzle with sesame oil. Serve immediately.About 1 min

Tips

  • High heat the whole time — napa cabbage releases a lot of water and needs the heat to evaporate it quickly.
  • The Sichuan peppercorns add a unique numbing quality — add them if you can find them.

Ring the changes

  • Add thinly sliced firm tofu with the cabbage for a protein-rich version.
  • Use apple cider vinegar if black rice vinegar is unavailable.

Keeping it

Best eaten immediately. Reheats well for up to 2 days.

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Tony C Smith
Tony C Smith

Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 4 April 2026.