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Chinese Napa Cabbage Soup Recipe

4.4 from 100 reviews

A comforting and flavorful Chinese Napa Cabbage Soup featuring tender napa cabbage and carrots simmered in a savory vegetable broth, enhanced with garlic, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, and a touch of sesame oil. This light and nourishing soup is perfect as a starter or a light meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 large leaves napa cabbage, sliced into 2-inch pieces (about 0.5lb / 250g)
  • 1 medium carrot, sliced

Liquids and Seasonings

  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon shaoxing wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil (for sautéing)

Instructions

  1. Saute the garlic: Heat about a tablespoon of neutral oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  2. Add vegetables and broth: Add the sliced napa cabbage and carrot to the pot, then pour in the 4 cups of vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
  3. Simmer the soup: Reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened.
  4. Season the soup: Remove the soup from heat. Stir in the soy sauce, shaoxing wine, and sesame oil. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more soy sauce if desired.
  5. Serve warm: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot for a soothing and nourishing meal.

Notes

  • For a non-vegetarian version, use chicken stock instead of vegetable stock.
  • Adjust soy sauce quantities to balance saltiness according to preference.
  • Shaoxing wine adds depth of flavor; if unavailable, dry sherry can be used as a substitute.
  • Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a heartier meal.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove.

Keywords: Chinese cabbage soup, napa cabbage soup, vegetable soup, vegan Chinese soup, healthy soup recipe