11 Best Cabbage Substitutes

Cabbage can be delicious in plenty of recipes. You can use it in salads, sandwiches, soups, and even stir-fries and baked dishes. And if you don’t have cabbage, there is no need to panic. You can use other similar foods to replace your cabbage in your recipe. 

The best substitutes for cabbage are Kale, Bok Choy, Kohlrabi, Choy sum, Savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Napa cabbage, Celery, Endives, Iceberg lettuce and Green beans.

Read on to discover more cabbage substitutes you might be interested to use in your food.

Cabbage Substitutes 

You can use the following cabbage substitutes in any dish that asks for cabbage. They will taste just as great and give your food the flavor you expect it to accomplish. Some alternatives might even taste better than cabbage so get ready to be surprised.

1. Kale

Kale can replace many green ingredients in many foods and cabbage is no exception. It comes from the same Brassica oleracea family as cabbage but it is much leafier.

It is a great ingredient for salads but you can use it in cooked dishes as well. It has a richer taste and will look better in your dishes too. You can use both curly kale and baby kale in your recipe, depending on what you find in stores. 

2. Bok choy

You will find bok choy under the name of Pak Choy a well. It is a Chinese white cabbage that can be used in a wide range of recipes just like regular cabbage.

You can use this bok choy instead of bell peppers too. The leaves, however, tend to have a bitter taste. You can easily remove them if you prefer to enjoy just the sweet taste of this veggie.  

3. Kohlrabi

A less popular but just as tasty substitute for cabbage is Kohlrabi. You will find it in a green and purple color too, just like cabbage.

The flavor is sweeter so you should expect a sweeter taste to your recipe too. It might be harder to find the purple type of Kohlrabi but if you do, it is well worth using it in your recipes. 

4. Choy sum 

Even if choy sum is considered Chinese cabbage, it is not the same as bok choy. As a matter of fact, this vegetable is closer to broccoli.

It has a taste that can easily be an alternative to any kind of cabbage. The best way to eat Choy is roasted but it will taste just as good in stir-fry dishes. Among the nutrients of this veggie, you will find vitamin C, iron, and vitamin C. 

5. Savoy cabbage 

If you need to replace cabbage in any type of soup, you should definitely go for savoy cabbage. It is ideal for stuffing recipes and any types of stews as well, thanks to its versatile taste.

Keep in mind that savoy cabbage is not as crunchy in texture as regular cabbage. So, the way your recipe turns out will be slightly different.  

6. Brussels sprouts 

Brussels sprouts are also great alternatives to cabbage since they are easy to find and easy to cook as well. They come from the same cabbage family and they will taste similar to cabbage.

In fact, brussels sprouts look just like miniature cabbage. They are also very nutritious and will stimulate your digestive system every time you consume them.

7. Napa cabbage 

Napa cabbage is the type of cabbage you will find in kimchi. It is popular in China but recently, it gained worldwide popularity.

It is called cabbage but looks very different than any other cabbage. It is shaped like a ball with yellow leaves. You can use it in salads but also in stir-fries and baked dishes. 

8. Celery 

Celery is a great alternative to cabbage. You can use it raw or cook it in various ways. When you prepare your celery, do it in the same way you would prep the cabbage. You can use the same seasonings as well and the same cooking time. 

9. Endives 

Endives are not as popular as cabbage but they can definitely replace it in salads. You can cook endives as well even if the best way to serve them is raw.

It is important to taste them before cooking as they have a stronger taste than cabbage, so you might need to use different seasonings if you replace your cabbage with endives. 

10. Iceberg lettuce 

Thanks to the crunchy texture, Iceberg lettuce can replace it in many salads. You can use iceberg lettuce in sandwiches as well. However, it’s not good for cooked dishes, so keep this alternative for cold dishes and fast recipes. 

11. Green beans 

You might be surprised to discover that green beans can replace cabbage successfully in many recipes. These beans have a neutral taste so you can season them the way you prefer to obtain the right flavor. They are easy to cook as you can simply steam them for a few minutes. You can use green beans baked, steamed, or in stir-fries.  

Substitute for Chinese Cabbage

If you want to replace Chinese cabbage in any recipe, you can use brussels sprouts. They have a similar taste to this cabbage and you can cook them in the same way. Celery will also be a great alternative thanks to its crunchy texture and neutral taste. 

Keep in mind that there are many types of Chinese cabbage and they all make great substitutes for regular cabbage. 

Cabbage Substitute in Dumplings

Dumplings are a famous Chinese dish and among other ingredients, they call for cabbage. If you don’t have cabbage, feel free to use fine chopped celery or endives.

Endives will taste good in most dumplings. Cook them the same way as you would cook regular cabbage. If you need to replace cabbage in such a recipe, pick a less watery alternative. 

Green Cabbage Substitute

If you need to substitute green cabbage, you might want to look for an alternative that is also green and crunchy in texture. Celery, brussels sprouts, and kale are perfect alternatives for green cabbage in any recipe. Cook your substitute the same way you would cook cabbage and season it accordingly. 

Cabbage Substitute for Soup

Cabbage is a common ingredient in soups, especially in Asian soups. However, if you don’t have cabbage it doesn’t mean you can’t cook your favorite soup.

It is easy to replace cabbage with green beans in any type of soup. Some soups will taste great if you use brussels sprouts as well. 

Celery is also a tasty ingredient to add to any soup instead of cabbage. You can use celery root or celery stems, according to what you prefer the most. 

Cabbage Substitute in Slaw

Cabbage is one of the key ingredients in the famous coleslaw salad, along with carrots.

However, having cabbage doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious slaw. Just replace cabbage with green beans or celery root. 

Either one of these substitutes will maintain the crunchy texture and the delicious taste of your salad. They are easy to chop in the same way you would chop the cabbage. As a matter of fact, you can use the green beans as they come since they are already in small long pieces. 

Conclusion 

Even if cabbage seems to be a staple in many recipes, that doesn’t mean you can’t cook a recipe without it. Use any of the substitutes in this guide and see which one you prefer best.

It is important to keep in mind that many cabbage substitutes have a neutral taste so you need to add the seasonings you want for your final flavor. 

You might have to experiment with various cabbage alternatives until you identify the one that works best. But there is no way you can fail with either one of the options in this guide.