When I see napa cabbage, I immediately think about hot pots, pan-fried dumplings, Asian coleslaw…but today, we’re going to make a western meal. Enter Creamy Napa Cabbage and Bacon Pasta (白菜とベーコンのクリームパスタ). Here, sweet tender cabbage basked in glorious carb and a creamy sauce, it’s simple and full of warmth – the best kind of pasta to enjoy all year round. The slightly charred panko topping gives the entire dish an extra perk! So good, so easy. And perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
How to Make Creamy Napa Cabbage Bacon Pasta
Ingredients You’ll Need
We use basic pantry ingredients and you can definitely use what you have in your fridge to make it work.
Onion Napa cabbage Mushrooms Bacon Penne pasta (or other short pasta) Cheese Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) Bechamel sauce (white sauce) – butter, flour, and milk
To make it vegetarian, just leave out the bacon and add in more mushrooms. A mix of mushrooms such as portobello, king oyster and shiitake will pack a lot of umami punch! Feel free to add in nutritional yeast for extra flavors and nutrients.
Quick Overview of Cooking Process
Helpful Cooking Tips
Don’t skimp on the butter – It is the base for making a creamy white sauce. Cook the flour in the butter on low heat – This will avoid raw flour taste in the white sauce. Keep stirring and don’t burn it. Slowly and gradually add milk – It is very important to incorporate a small amount of milk into the butter/flour mixture to avoid lumps. Cook napa cabbage, covered, in the white sauce on low heat – We will make the smooth creamy white sauce first before adding the napa cabbage and mushrooms. Once the sauce is ready, make sure to put the lid on, and cook on low heat. The moisture inside the pan will keep the white sauce from drying and burnt. Reserve some pasta cooking water – When you make pasta, it’s always best to reserve some pasta water to loosen up the pasta and sauce. Love crunchy topping? – Use panko! Panko gives a beautiful crunch.
If you have some leftover napa cabbage on hand, try this. You can’t go wrong when combined it with pasta, creamy sauce and cheese baked to the perfection.
Other Pasta Recipes You May Enjoy
Ume Shiso Pasta Miso Butter Pasta with Tuna and Cabbage Creamy Miso Pasta with Tofu and Asparagus Shiso Garlic Pasta Japanese-Style Mushroom Tuna Pasta Japanese-Style Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini
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