Peas and Cabbage Stir-Fry: Delicious and Easy Home Recipe

Are you looking for a tasty and easy-to-make dish to enrich your family meals? Peas and cabbage stir-fry is the perfect choice for you. With simple ingredients and quick preparation, this dish is not only appealing in flavor but also packed with amazing nutritional benefits.

Peas and cabbage stir-fry

Origin and Popularity of Peas and Cabbage Stir-Fry

The peas and cabbage stir-fry dish may be simple, but it has a special allure in Vietnamese cuisine. From peaceful rural areas to bustling cities, this dish always appears as an essential part of daily meals. The reason lies in the easy availability of ingredients, simple preparation, and a light flavor suitable for all ages.

Both cabbage and peas are rich in vitamins, fiber, and essential minerals, helping to nourish the body. The combination of these two vegetables creates a harmonious dish in terms of color, flavor, and nutrition.

Preparing Ingredients and Necessary Tools

Fresh Ingredients for Stir-Fry

• Cabbage: ½ head (choose tightly packed, fresh green leaves to ensure crispness).
• Peas: 200g (prefer fresh peas, if unavailable, use frozen peas).
• Garlic: 2-3 cloves (Vietnamese garlic is more aromatic than Chinese garlic).
• Green onions: 2-3 stalks.
• Seasonings: Cooking oil, salt, sugar, MSG (optional), ground pepper, good quality fish sauce (if you prefer a richer flavor).

Cooking Tools

• Knife, cutting board.
• Cast iron or non-stick pan.
• Chopsticks or spatula.
• Bowls and plates for ingredients and finished dish.

Preparing ingredients for peas and cabbage stir-fry

Detailed Instructions for Making Peas and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Step 1: Preparing Ingredients

• Cabbage: Wash thoroughly, cut into bite-sized pieces, then soak in lightly salted water for about 5 minutes to enhance crispness. Drain and let dry.
• Peas: If using fresh peas, remove the strings on both sides and wash. For frozen peas, simply rinse to remove ice.
• Garlic: Peel, crush, and finely chop.
• Green onions: Wash and cut into short segments.

Step 2: Stir-Frying

1. Place the pan on the stove and heat the cooking oil. When the oil is hot, sauté the garlic until golden brown. Note: Sauté garlic over medium heat to prevent burning.
2. Add the cabbage first and stir-fry quickly over high heat to maintain crispness. After about 2-3 minutes, add the peas.
3. Season with salt, sugar, and MSG (optional) to taste. You can season it a bit lighter as it will be just right when eaten with rice.
4. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, then sprinkle green onions and ground pepper on top.

Step 3: Finishing and Enjoying

• Turn off the heat and serve the peas and cabbage stir-fry on a plate.
• The dish is best enjoyed hot, served with white rice or noodles. The crisp and sweet taste of cabbage combined with the nutty flavor of peas will surely captivate you.

Secrets to Perfect Peas and Cabbage Stir-Fry

• Choose fresh ingredients: Young cabbage and fresh or high-quality frozen peas will determine the flavor of the dish.
• Stir-fry over high heat: This helps maintain the crispness and vibrant green color of the vegetables.
• Don’t overcook: Only stir-fry until the ingredients are just cooked to ensure crispness and retain nutrients.
• Add fish sauce: A bit of good quality fish sauce will enhance the flavor.
• Use a cast iron pan: A cast iron pan adds a distinctive aroma and retains heat better.

Perfect peas and cabbage stir-fry

Unique Variations for Peas and Cabbage Stir-Fry

If you want to make the dish more interesting, try these suggestions:

• Add meat or shrimp: Ground pork or fresh shrimp will make the dish more savory.
• Combine with mushrooms: Straw mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, or oyster mushrooms are excellent choices.
• Add carrots: Thinly sliced carrots add a vibrant color to the dish.
• Spicy stir-fry: Add fresh chili or chili sauce to stimulate your taste buds.
• Drizzle with sesame oil: Before turning off the heat, drizzle a bit of sesame oil and add toasted sesame seeds to enhance the flavor.