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Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry with shredded cabbage in a Chinese-inspired stir-fry sauce. This healthy delicious side dish is Paleo, Whole30, and Vegan friendly and goes well with any savory main dishes. It will add wonderful new flavor to your cabbage stir-fry!
Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry
It might seem odd to share a cabbage stir-fry side dish in the midst of December holiday season. I was debating whether I should write another holiday dessert recipe or go a completely different route. Believe it or not, Nate and I had been nibbling on sweets since September this year because of my content production schedule so by the month of December we are quite okay with skipping sweets and craving cleaner food with less sugar.
I’ve always loved cabbage, especially Napa cabbage and savoy. If you are a cabbage fan, check out my Paleo Chicken and Napa cabbage stir-fry, Korean Japchae, Lion’s Head Meatballs, and Paleo Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad.
Store-bought shredded cabbage VS. homemade
I’m not a fan using pre-shredded vegetables. They are convenient but tend to have drier texture and the flavor is more bland. If you can, I highly recommend using a mandolin slicer (not a cheese grater) to shred the cabbage by yourself. You’ll find that the vegetables are so much more delicious and flavorful than the pre-made version.
How to use star anise in stir-fry
Star anise is such a staple pantry item in Chinese cooking. Here’s a rough guideline on how to use star anise in Chinese stir-fry.
- Select a neutral flavor oil such as avocado oil
- Fragrant the hot oil with 1 whole star anise pod among other aromatics (garlic, ginger, chili peppers etc.)
- Add your stir-fry vegetables and sauté
- Before serving, either discard the star anise or leave it in the plate. It’s not meant to be consumed.
Check out my Whole30 Asian Pantry Guide for more Info!
More Cabbage Recipes!
- Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry with Quail Eggs
- Instant Pot Chicken Cabbage Soup
- Sauteed Taiwanese Cabbage
- Creamed Napa Cabbage Casserole
This Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry is easy, healthy, crunchy, light, and delicious. It’s also Whole30 and Vegan friendly.
If you give this Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry a try, be sure to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hit the share button so more people can enjoy this wonderful side dish ! It’ll help me and my blog tremendously. Thanks in advance !
Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry (Whole30, Vegan)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 tbsp avocado oil
- 3 large cloves garlic , finely chopped
- 1 whole star anise
- 2 tsp finely chopped ginger , about 3 thin slices
- ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- Salt to taste
- ½ to ⅔ lb savoy cabbage , shredded
- 1.5 cups julienned carrots , about 1 large carrot
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp chicken or vegetable stock
- ⅛ tsp black ground pepper
Garnish:
- 1 bulb scallion , chopped
- 1 to 2 tsp toasted sesame oil , optional
Instructions
- In a well-heated large skillet, add avocado oil. Saute garlic, star anise, ginger, and pepper flakes with a pinch of salt over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 to 1.5 minutes.
- Add cabbage and carrots. Saute for about 2 minutes until they turn slightly softer. Season with another pinch of salt. Add sauce. Toss to coat evenly. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes,
- Uncover and toss/stir-fry the vegetables again for about 10 seconds. Taste test to add more salt or coconut aminos if desired. Off heat, garnish with scallions and sesame oil.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What goes well with Paleo Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry?
My shredded cabbage stir-fry is light, crunchy, and full of flavor. It’ll go well with savory main dishes such as Paleo Beef Broccoli, Paleo Chicken Broccoli, Thai Basil Beef, Instant Pot Taiwanese Beef Stew, Sesame Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Herb Roasted spatchcock chicken, and many many more.
You can also pair the cabbage stir-fry with baked Paleo Egg Rolls, Extra crispy Chinese chicken wings, Chinese chicken lettuce wraps, and paleo crispy sesame tofu. The possibilities are endless! For more plant-based recipe ideas, check out my 60+ Whole30 vegetarian vegan recipes.
I love cabbage recipes and can not wait to try this quick and easy stir fry recipe!
I love cabbage in stir-fry dishes and this recipe looks so perfect. Star anise is a new ingredient to me, so I’m excited to try it out.
I could live off stir fry, and no one ever needs enough cabbage!
I love your recipe and all the flavors! Such a perfect side dish!
I’ve been on a real cabbage binge lately. I agree with you – buying it whole tastes so much better! Haven’t tried a mandolin grater for it though yet.. will have to get one of those!
I love a good stir-fry! So simple and nutritious! I need to find a wok big enough for my family, though… my little cast iron skillet isn’t cutting it anymore.
Sounds great! I got a beautiful Savoy cabbage last week at the farmer’s market that would be wonderful for that!
That’s perfect, Tammy! Happy cooking!
Can this be frozen?
Hi Jan, I believe you can. I have yet to try it. The texture of the vegetables will turn softer though.
I just bought a head of traditional cabbage, but also have some brussel sprouts. I think I’ll combine the two instead of savoy. Any adjustments to recommend in prep or seasoning? Otherwise this sounds like a perfect easy side. Thanks also for the tip on how to use star anise.
Hi Letitia! Lovely hearing from you 🙂 For prep, I would shred the cabbage to thin slices…almost like slaw. Keep the seasonings the same. It’s a very simple seasoning so it’ll be easy to make adjustments based on the quantity and the flavor you prefer. Happy cooking!
Cabbage is my jam… and a new quick way to prepare it is right up my alley, thank you!