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Hot Honey Cabbage Stir-Fry (Charred, Not Steamed — Here"s the Trick)

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Thick-cut cabbage wedges seared until charred, then tossed in a sweet-savory hot honey sauce with a kick of chili and acid.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium head green cabbage, cut into 8 thick wedges through the core
  • 3 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or vegetable), divided
  • Salt, to taste
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon chili crisp or 1–2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pat the cabbage wedges dry and season lightly with salt on both cut sides.
  2. Heat a large cast iron or heavy skillet over high heat until it"s just starting to smoke, then add 2 tablespoons of oil.
  3. Lay the wedges in the pan cut-side down in a single layer, working in batches if needed so they aren"t crowded. Sear undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until deeply charred.
  4. Flip and sear the second cut side for another 3-4 minutes, then stand the wedges on their edges briefly to char the outer leaves. Remove to a plate.
  5. Lower the heat to medium, add the remaining oil, and sauté the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Off the heat, whisk in the honey, chili crisp, fish sauce, and rice vinegar until combined into a glossy sauce.
  7. Return the cabbage to the pan and toss gently to coat in the sauce, just until warmed through — don"t let it cook further or the honey will scorch.
  8. Plate the wedges, spoon any extra sauce over the top, and finish with scallions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Keep the core attached when cutting wedges so they hold together in the pan. Searing in batches beats crowding the pan every time — crowding is the #1 reason this dish turns out steamed instead of charred. Sauce keeps in the fridge for up to a week, so double the batch and use it on roasted vegetables or grilled chicken too.

Find it online: https://www.rapidrecipes.blog/hot-honey-cabbage-stir-fry-charred-not-steamed-heres-the-trick/