Yamitsuki Cabbage: Izakaya-Style Cabbage Salad
This is a super quick and easy Izakaya-style Yamitsuki Cabbage Salad, or Shio Kyabetsu. Fragrant, savory, and refreshing, this cabbage is a staple in Japanese barbeque and Izakayas. This simple salted sesame cabbage salad requires no cooking, and takes only 5 minutes to put together. It gets better as it sits, which is perfect for meal prepping. In only a few ingredients, you get a healthy, gut-friendly side salad that goes super well with any hearty, meaty main dish. Add more fiber-rich side dishes to dinner with this salted cabbage!
Izakaya Style Japanese Cabbage Salad
This 5 minute Japanese cabbage salad is called Shio Kyabetsu, which translates directly to “salted cabbage”. This is a staple yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) and izakaya side dish that often comes with a meal set, or as a complimentary side when you’re seated. Its refreshing flavors makes it a great palate cleanser for grilled or pan-fried meats. Now, it is also known as the viral Yamitsuki Cabbage やみつきキャベツ, or “Addicting Cabbage” thanks to the Japanese BBQ Chain Gyukaku.
This Shio Kyabetsu recipe is inspired by those izakaya sides. It is light, crunchy, savory, and incredibly easy to make. It only takes a few simple ingredients, comes together in no time, and honestly goes with everything. It’s another dish that I love making a big batch of to keep in the fridge for an easy side dish all week long.
Pro Tip: I love to top this with hemp seeds for extra protein and a little nutty crunch.
Ingredients For Shio Kyabetsu
- 1 head green cabbage chopped into cube
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dashi powder
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds ground
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 tbsp hemp seeds optional topping
Raw Cabbage: A Gut Health Superfood
Cabbage is definitely a superfood. It contains tons of fiber, Vitamin C and K, as well “Vitamin U”, or S-methylmethionine, a substance that supports gastric lining repair and ulcer healing. But, did you know that raw cabbage has different nutritional benefits compared to cooked cabbage? Raw cabbage contains the enzyme myrosinase, an enzyme that is a powerful antioxidant. It is heat-sensitive, so it isn’t available in cooked cabbages.
You can use the typical green cabbage, or if you can find them, the flatter Taiwanese or Flathead cabbage. These types of cabbage have denser leaves packed tightly together. Compared to other cabbages like red cabbage and napa, these have a more rubbery feel to their leaves. The rubbery texture of cabbage helps retain water, but can also make it a little tough to eat raw. Let the cabbage sit for 10-15 minutes in the seasoning. That way, the cabbage tenderizes, and absorbs all the flavor!
Sesame Seasoning: Key to Tender Cabbage
This sesame garlic seasoning is actually the KEY to making this cabbage so delicious. It is a simple mix of salt, dashi powder, sesame oil, ground sesame seeds, and minced garlic, but this mix is more than just flavor. The salt in the seasoning physically softens the cabbage leaves, and seasons it. The sesame oil and garlic mixes with the cabbage juices released into a simple, but fragrant dressing. I promise, using freshly ground sesame seeds makes all the difference when it comes to aroma!
Instructions For Shio Kyabetsu
- Remove any tough outer leaves from the cabbage, remove the stem, then cut entire cabbage, rinse clean, pat dry or use a salad spinner, and add into a large bowl
- Add in the salt, dashi powder, sesame oil, ground roasted sesame seeds, and minced garlic.
- Using your hands or tongs, toss everything together really well until the cabbage is evenly coated.
- Let the cabbage sit for 10-15 minutes so it can soften slightly and absorb all the flavor.
- Toss once more before serving.
Recreate More Izakaya Recipes At Home with me!
Izakaya-Style Yamitsuki Cabbage Salad
By Tiffy Cooks
Ingredients
- 1 head green cabbage chopped into cube
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dashi powder
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds ground
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 tbsp hemp seeds optional topping
Instructions
- Remove any tough outer leaves from the cabbage, remove the stem, then cut entire cabbage, rinse clean, pat dry or use a salad spinner, and add into a large bowl
- Add in the salt, dashi powder, sesame oil, ground roasted sesame seeds, and minced garlic.
- Using your hands or tongs, toss everything together really well until the cabbage is evenly coated.
- Let the cabbage sit for 10-15 minutes so it can soften slightly and absorb all the flavor.
- Toss once more before serving. Optional: sprinkle with hemp seeds before servings.
Tried it right away when I saw this and IT WAS SO GOOD. I’m going to eat cabbage like this forever now!