Description
Yamitsuki Cabbage is a simple, addictive Japanese side dish featuring crunchy green cabbage tossed with umami-rich seasonings, toasted sesame seeds, garlic, and sesame oil. This refreshing and flavorful salad is quick to prepare and makes a perfect appetizer or accompaniment to your meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Cabbage
- ½ head green cabbage (about 4 packed cups or 320 g)
Seasonings
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp umami-boosting seasoning (such as kobucha powdered kelp tea, shio koji, vegetable or chicken bouillon, shio kombu, ground katsuobushi, dashi powder, or hondashi)
- 2 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds (plus more for optional garnish)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic (or 1 large clove)
Instructions
- Prepare the Sesame Seeds and Garlic: Using a mortar and pestle, grind 2 tablespoons of toasted white sesame seeds, leaving some seeds partially unground for texture. Set aside. Crush or press 2 cloves of garlic and set aside.
- Prepare the Cabbage: Remove the core from half a head of green cabbage and slice or hand-tear the leaves into approximately 1 to 1½ inch squares. Measure 4 packed cups (320 g) of the chopped cabbage, then rinse it well and thoroughly drain using a salad spinner to remove excess water, preventing dilution of the seasoning.
- Season the Cabbage: Place the cabbage into a large stainless steel prep tray or a large bowl/bag. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon of your chosen umami seasoning (kobucha powder recommended) over the cabbage. Close the container lid or seal the bag and shake well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add Garlic Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds: Mix the crushed garlic with 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil in a small bowl. Add this mixture along with the ground sesame seeds to the seasoned cabbage. Close the lid or reseal the bag and shake thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Serve: The dish is ready to serve immediately. Optionally, sprinkle additional toasted sesame seeds on top as a garnish. Enjoy as a flavorful appetizer or side dish.
Notes
- Do not leave water on washed cabbage as it dilutes the seasoning—use a salad spinner to dry well.
- Choose your preferred umami seasoning for a personalized flavor, such as shio koji, kombu, or bonito flakes.
- The recipe yields 2 to 4 servings depending on portion size and appetite.
- This dish is best served fresh to maintain the cabbage’s crisp texture.
- Adjust salt and umami seasoning to taste based on preference.
- You can toast your own white sesame seeds for optimal flavor if not using pre-toasted seeds.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-cook, Tossed Salad
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe (~120 g)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Yamitsuki cabbage, Japanese cabbage salad, sesame cabbage salad, umami side dish, quick Japanese salad
