This Stir-Fried Sesame Kale and Red Cabbage dish is simple yet filling. Whether you stick to the recipe or use it as a launch pad for your own creation, this dish will become a family favorite!
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The trick to this pretty stir-fry is to stop the stir-fry process just shy of when you think you need to. This way both the cabbage and kale retain their bright colors! You can keep the recipe really simple, as in the basic recipe, or vary it with different veggies.
Find lots more recipes on VegKitchen for kale, collards, and other hardy greens.
How to Make Stir-Fried Sesame Kale and Red Cabbage
- Prep kale leaves.
- Slice red cabbage.
- Heat oil in pan and sauté onion.
- Add kale and cabbage and stir-fry until brightly colored.
- Remove pan from heat, add seasonings, and serve.
Full directions for how to make Stir-Fried Sesame Kale and Red Cabbage are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Stir-Fried Sesame Kale and Red Cabbage FAQs
Can I use different veggies than listed in the recipe?
You can switch up this recipe by adding a small amount of another vegetable or two depending on what you have on hand. Use any of the following, adding them at the same time as the kale and cabbage.
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into long narrow strips
- 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or thawed from frozen
- 8-10 baby carrots, quartered lengthwise
What are the health benefits of kale?
Kale is considered a superfood. It's full of antioxidants and vitamins-and it can even help to reduce cholesterol. Kale even has cancer-fighting properties! Everyone would be quite a bit healthier if we ate more kale.
Recipe
Stir-Fried Sesame Kale and Red Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale 8-10 ounces, preferably curly green or lacinato
- ½ small head red cabbage or ⅓ medium head
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red onion quartered and thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoon ginger grated fresh or jarred
- 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds preferably unhulled
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- dried hot red pepper flakes or other spicy condiment to taste; optional
Instructions
- Strip the kale leaves from the stems. Stack a few leaves atop one another and cut them into narrow strips. If desired, slice the stems thinly to use in the stir-fry; otherwise discard.
- Cut the red cabbage into thin slices, 2-3 inches long.
- Heat the oil in a stir-fry pan or large skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until golden and soft.
- Add the kale and cabbage. Turn the heat up to high and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until both are brightly colored and tender crisp. If the pan needs a bit more moisture, sprinkle in a little water-but not too much!
- Remove pan from the heat. Stir in the ginger, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Season with salt and pepper-and a little hot stuff if you'd like-and serve at once.
Nutrition (Estimate per Serving)
From Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas. Photo by Susan Voisin, FatFree Vegan Kitchen.
Stanley Bland says
Excellent recipe, thanks for sharing.
Tristan says
I made a version of this last night and used a mandolin to make very fine cabbage. The kale was prepared as described with maybe 5mm strips; also I only used one small shallot. Interestingly enough it turned out similar to a seaweed salad but without the seaweed flavor. Be sure to toast the sesame seeds too. This was served with ginger-garlic-soy-sesame baked cod. Super tasty!!
Risenar says
I have read this recipe several times. When is the ginger used? My apologies if I am just dense.
Nava says
Hello — my apologies, there was an omission in the recipe. I did make the update, though it sometimes takes a few hours to actually show up. The ginger should be in the 4th paragraph, added with the sesame oil and sesame seeds. Thanks for the eagle eye!
Jo-Anne says
Loved this. Added a clove of crushed garlic to the onions, and julienned carrots with the kale and cabbage. Delicious!
Nava says
Great tweaks, Jo-Anne; thanks for sharing!
Rusty Horton says
I have been preparing sauteed cabbage and kale for a while now and thought that it was my own creation. I use bacon grease though, and have never tried sesame oil and seeds. Can't wait to try it this way.