This sautéed cabbage is a quick, easy side dish that’s full of fresh, bold flavors! With ginger, garlic, sesame and green onions, it’s one of our favorite cabbage recipes.
You’ll Love this Easy Cabbage Recipe!
If you ask me, cabbage is an underrated vegetable that deserves so much more love than it gets. It lends itself to so many delicious preparations, including a crunchy slaw for Fish Tacos, a nutritious, low calorie Cabbage Soup and the best Chinese Chicken Salad I’ve ever tasted. Today we’re turning crisp cabbage into a simple side dish that will knock your socks off!
The key to making the best sautéed cabbage is to not overcook it or overcrowd the pan. You want to get those golden caramelized edges without cooking the cabbage so much that it gets too soft or soggy. Cook it over medium-high heat to brown the edges while keeping some of its crispness.
Ingredient Notes
This sautéed cabbage recipe uses simple ingredients like ginger, garlic and green onions. It’s fresh with a bit of punchy spice from the ginger. Here’s a look at what you’ll need:
- Green Cabbage: Green cabbage has a mild flavor that’s a great canvas for the Asian-inspired flavors in this recipe. This recipe calls for one small cabbage, or you can use half of a large cabbage. I often have half a cabbage leftover from another recipe and this sautéed cabbage is a great way to use it up!
- Olive Oil: For sautéing.
- Sesame Oil: Adds toasty depth and richness.
- Fresh Garlic: Brings out the savory flavors.
- Fresh Ginger: Adds bright, bold spice. I use a microplane to finely grate the ginger. You don’t need to peel it first.
- Salt & Pepper: Season to your tastes.
- Green Onions: Adds a fresh, sharp flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Brightens up the flavors.
- Sesame Seeds: I garnish the cabbage with sesame seeds for nuttiness and crunch.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Sautéed Cabbage
Chop the cabbage: First cut the whole cabbage into halves and then quarters. Slice out the core from each piece, then slice into thin ¼-inch strips.
Sauté: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s softened and slightly caramelized/browned in spots.
Add seasonings: Add the sesame oil, minced garlic, finely grated fresh ginger, salt, pepper and green onions and cook, stirring, for 1-2 more minutes. Remove pan from the heat, then stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Garnish with sesame seeds, serve and enjoy!
What to Serve With Sautéed Cabbage
This sautéed cabbage goes wonderfully with:
- Pan Seared Salmon. The bright flavors in this simple side dish pair well with the richness of salmon.
- Cabbage goes really well with pork, like my Baked Pork Tenderloin and Baked Bone-In Pork Chops.
- Try it with my sweet and savory Teriyaki Chicken.
More Favorite Cabbage Recipes
- Egg Roll in a Bowl: An easy one pan recipe made with ground turkey, veggies and a savory sauce.
- Shrimp Tacos: Cabbage adds delicious crunch to these tacos.
- Buddha Bowl: Filled with nourishing ingredients like quinoa, red cabbage and chickpeas.
- Coleslaw: My recipe for this BBQ side is so simple and so good!
- Apple Slaw: Sweet-tart apples make this variation on classic coleslaw such a favorite!
Did you make this recipe? I’d truly appreciate if you leave a comment and star rating below! Your review will help others who want to try this recipe. Thank you! 💛
Sautéed Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 small head green cabbage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 3 green onions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste
- sesame seeds, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Cut the cabbage into halves and then quarters. Slice out the core from each piece. Slice cabbage into thin ¼-inch strips.1 small head green cabbage
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly caramelized/browned in spots.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the sesame oil, garlic, ginger, salt, pepper and green onions and cook, stirring, for 1-2 more minutes. Remove pan from the heat, then stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.1 teaspoon sesame oil, 3 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper, 3 green onions, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds if desired.sesame seeds
Notes
- The key to making the best sautéed cabbage is to not overcook it or overcrowd the pan. You want to get those golden caramelized edges without cooking the cabbage so much that it gets too soft or soggy. Cook it over medium-high heat to brown the edges while keeping some of its crispness.
