Hydrating Napa Cabbage Roll
HYDRATING NAPA CABBAGE POCKET
Yield: 6-8 rolls
This recipe was designed for the New Year's Eve banquet of the Year of Ox. The "Hong Bao" ("Lucky Money" envelope) is handed to children and those who are not yet married. It contains sweets or money and given to represent a wish for fortune and wealth in the coming year. This stuffed cabbage pocket recipe emulates the lucky pockets that we receive during the New Year. It is filled with a balanced ratio of slightly warming and yin-nourishing ingredients, bound to bring you 100 types of prosperity!Why Napa Cabbage? Napa cabbage said in Chinese sounds like "big, hundreds of wealth," symbolizing prosperity. The shape of napa cabbage is also like a chubby baby, another classic motif for luck and abundance in Chinese culture.
Ingredients
- 1 napa cabbage
- 1 package firm tofu or beyond meat*
- 1 cup cooked red lentil
- 1/3 cup of sweet corn kernel
- 2 cups of chopped mixed mushrooms
- 1 cups of zucchini
- 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 16 strings of Chinese chives (optional)
- soy sauce to taste
Note
- *You can also use minced meat if you prefer.
Instructions
- Blanch the cabbage leaves in boiling water so that they become soft enough to fold/roll. They'll be your wraps.
- Cook red lentil in water or broth until soft, but not mushy.
- In a food processor, finely chop tofu, zucchini, ginger, and mushrooms.
- In a pan, add olive oil, then saute the tofu mixture, add in lentils, corn, and sesame seeds, saute until fragrant. Season with soy sauce or sea salt.
- When the mix reaches a “minced meat” look, roll it up, inside the cabbage leaf. Refer to the spring roll method to fold.
- If you have Chinese chives, soften them in warm water and use them as a string to tie your cabbage pocket.
- Pair it with any sauce you like, from spicy to sour-sweet.
vegan | nut-free | gluten-free option
Functions/ Organ/Meridian:
- Neutral
- Spleen, Stomach
- Nourish Yin, hydrate the body, great source of plant protein and fiber