Vietnamese Fermented Cabbage
This simple fermented cabbage is a great side dish or accompaniment for any salty Asian rice dishes, bao buns or burgers.

- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 31 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 3 cups cooled boiled water
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 3 tsp salt
- 6 outer green cabbage leaves (approx 300 gm), (shredded)
- 10 gm Vietnamese mint, (roughly chopped (Optional but recommended) (Available at Asian groceries))
- 1 medium brown onion, (cut into wedges)
- 1 L boiled water
Instructions
- 1
Let the cabbage leaves wilt outside in the sunlight for 1 hour.
- 2
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
- 3
After drying, wash the wilted cabbage leaves and pat dry. Chop them in half and shred them with a knife so that they are approximately 0.8 of cm. (See pictures above for examples)
- 4
With the Vietnamese mint, pull the leaves off the stem and roughly chop. Cut the onion into small wedges and pull each layer apart.
- 5
In a bowl, combine the sugar and salt with the the cooled boiled water.
- 6
In a bowl, toss the cabbage, onion and Vietnamese mint
- 7
Before pickling, pour boiling water into your 2 - 3 clean medium sized jars and swirl the water around. Discard the water and repeat.
- 8
Put cabbage mixture into the jars and squash them in. Pour the pickling liquid over the top until covered.
- 9
Make a plastic cut out or fill a zip lock bag with some water and put it on top of the cabbage to keep it completely submerged in the pickling liquid. (see picture above) (Note 1)
- 10
Place the lid on and leave it at room temperature for 2 - 3 days.
- 11
Refrigerate after opening.