Chicken Napa Cabbage Stir Fry

Chicken and Napa Cabbage Stir Fry - marinated diced chicken thighs stir fried with dried shrimp, garlic, and tasty napa cabbage!

Jump to:

• About Napa Cabbage
• About Dried Shrimp
• How to cook Chicken Napa Cabbage Stir Fry (Step by Step)
• Storage & Reheat
• FAQ
• Chicken Napa Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe
• More Delicious Chicken Stir Fry Recipes
• Pin for later!

About Napa Cabbage

Napa Cabbage is one type of cabbage, and is also known as Chinese cabbage. It is oblong shaped, and it's leaves are more tender than your normal green cabbage. It is more closer to lettuce in texture, which one time confused the cashier that was trying to ring my Napa Cabbage up. He was convinced it was Lettuce, but I had to explain that it was actually Napa Cabbage!

Fun fact: Napa cabbage is the type of veggie most commonly made in to Kimchi (a fermented dish originating from Korea.)

About Dried Shrimp

Dried shrimp (aka 蝦米) are sun dried shrimps that have been preserved and used in many Asian cuisines. It adds a umami flavor to the dish. We always have a jar (or 2) of dried shrimp in the house, as there are different types too!

You can buy them from any Asian supermarkets. You can also find some on amazon, and if all else fails, you could really skip them and just cook Napa with the smashed garlic to bring additional delicousness to this napa cabbage recipe.

If you like how the dried shrimp turns out, you should check out some of the other ways I use it - Cabbage Stir Fry, Taiwan Rice Noodles Stir Fry, and Bok Choy dish!

How to cook Chicken Napa Cabbage Stir Fry (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• Chicken Marinade:
  • 1 lb chicken thigh, cut in to bite sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon rice cooking wine or vinegar
• Stir Fry:
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried shrimp (optional, adds umami flavor)
  • 1 cup napa cabbage, cut in to 1-2 inch chunks
  • 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar

Cut the napa cabbage in to 1-2 inch pieces:

In a mixing bowl, add the chicken marinade ingredients. Combine well and then set it aside to marinade for half hour or up to overnight in the refrigerator.

In a cooking pan or wok, add cooking oil, and let it heat up on medium high. Add garlic and dried shrimp (if using) and let it cook for about 1 minute.

Then add chicken and stir fry for about 3 minutes or until chicken is slightly browned, and remove chicken and garlic from heat.

Add a little more cooking oil if your pan is too dry. Then, add the napa cabbage and stir fry for a couple minutes or until napa cabbage has softened..

Return chicken back in to pan and add oyster sauce, brown sugar, salt to taste, and stir fry everything for about another 2-3 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Remove from heat and serve!

Storage & Reheat

Storage:
Let the stir fry cool completely before storing. In the Fridge, store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheat:

• Stovetop (Best): Heat a little oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat, then stir-fry the leftovers for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
• Microwave: Heat in 30-45 second bursts, stirring in between, until hot.

💡 Tip: If it seems a bit dry after refrigerating, add a splash of water or soy sauce while reheating to bring back the flavor and moisture.

FAQ

Can I skip the dried shrimp?
Yes! The dried shrimp adds a savory umami flavor, but it's completely optional. The dish is still delicious with just garlic and napa cabbage.

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Absolutely. Chicken breast works too - just be careful not to overcook it so it stays tender and juicy.

Do I need to soak the dried shrimp first?
If your dried shrimp feels very hard or large, give it a quick rinse and soak in warm water for about 5 minutes to soften before cooking. Smaller ones can usually go straight in after rinsing.

What's the best way to serve this dish?
Serve it hot with a bowl of steamed jasmine rice or short-grain white rice. It also goes great with a side of soup or other veggie stir-fries.

Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes - simply skip the chicken and dried shrimp, and use tofu or mushrooms instead for a flavorful vegetarian version.

More Delicious Chicken Stir Fry Recipes

• If you love spicy food you're going to LOVE this Jalapeno Chicken Stir Fry! It was my FAVORITE dish my mom made when I was growing up - so easy to make and so flavorful!
• For any stir fried chicken dish, you have got to marinate! The marinate helps tenderize the meat and flavor it as well! So definitely check out my simple chicken stir fry marinade to make sure all your stir fries are delicious.
• If you're a fan of cauliflower like we are, you will love this Cauliflower Chicken Stir Fry! It's easy to make and tasty too!
• Add a earthy flavor to your chicken stir fry... with shiitake mushrooms! This Chicken Shiitake Mushrooms Stir Fry is a HIT every time I make it!

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