Quick And Spicy Chinese Cabbage Pickle Recipe

Craving a vibrant and spicy pickle? This recipe delivers a burst of flavor in just 15 minutes! Perfect as a side dish, bento box addition, or topping for your favorite Japanese-inspired meal. This incredibly fast Chinese cabbage pickle is surprisingly flavorful and requires minimal ingredients.

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Calories 8.1 kcal
Protein 0g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Quick And Spicy Chinese Cabbage Pickle 11

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Quick And Spicy Chinese Cabbage Pickle

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How to Make Quick And Spicy Chinese Cabbage Pickle

  1. Wash 1 medium head of Chinese cabbage thoroughly and discard any discolored outer leaves.
  2. Dry the cabbage leaves completely by spinning in a salad spinner or patting dry with several layers of paper towels.
  3. Roughly chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of chili flakes (adjust to your spice preference), ½ teaspoon of sesame seeds, and the zest of 1 orange.
  5. If using, crumble 1 vegetable stock cube finely and add it to the dry ingredient mixture.
  6. Place the chopped cabbage in a large, sturdy plastic bag (gallon-sized zip-top bag works well).
  7. Add the dry ingredient mixture to the bag with the cabbage.
  8. Seal the bag, leaving some air inside. Shake vigorously to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed.
  9. Open the bag, gently squeeze out as much air as possible, and reseal.
  10. Massage and toss the bag gently, bruising the cabbage to release its moisture. Be careful not to tear the bag.
  11. Let the cabbage sit for at least 10 minutes, or up to an hour in the refrigerator to allow the salt to dissolve and the flavors to meld.
  12. To serve, drain off any excess liquid.
  13. For extra flavor, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or sesame oil (optional).
  14. Serve immediately as a side dish or pack it in your bento box!

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

16 g

Sugar

0g

Fat

0g

Carbs

0g