Cabbage is a hearty, budget-friendly vegetable, and when bought whole, it is a great addition to any family meal. These easy recipes will use a whole cabbage!

Cabbages are enjoyed worldwide, with each region having its traditional dishes. In Japan, cabbage is in season from fall to winter and is sold by the head, offering countless cooking possibilities for home cooks. The most common preparation method is stir-frying - simply combining protein and cabbage for an easy meal. Japanese home cooks have also adapted international recipes, creating simpler versions to expand their repertoire.

Here's a quick 15-minute dish that combines chopped cabbage with ground chicken - only 178 calories per serving! If ground chicken isn't available, try thinly slicing then finely chopping chicken breast. In Japanese cooking, a splash of cooking sake is often added to enhance the dish's umami or savory depth. Add a bit to stir-fries for an extra flavor boost!

This dish is an adaptation of Hui Guo Rou, a classic Chinese Sichuan dish. The original name comes from cooking the pork twice - first boiling, then stir-frying it in a wok. Thinly sliced pork is readily available in Japan, and so this dish was adapted and renamed "Hoikoro," made by stir-frying thin pork slices with cabbage. The seasoning is simple, using tianmianjiang (sweet bean paste), doubanjiang (spicy bean paste), and Kikkoman Soy Sauce as key flavoring agents.

• Try this recipe　Twice Cooked Pork

Stuffed cabbage rolls are beloved across many cultures. They became popular in Japanese households during the 1960s with the rise of "yoshoku" (Western-influenced Japanese cuisine). Known as "roll cabbage" in Japanese-English, there are many different ways to prepare the dish. This time-saving recipe uses a microwave to pre-cook the cabbage leaves, reducing the cooking time to just 20 minutes!

Have you heard of Tonkatsu? This popular Japanese dish of breaded deep-fried pork cutlet is a restaurant favorite. It’s always served with a generous mountain  of shredded cabbage! This pairing isn't just a tradition - the fresh cabbage helps balance the richness of the fried cutlet, pairs well  with tonkatsu sauce, and contains Vitamin U, which aids digestion. Add a generous side of shredded cabbage with your favorite main dish – it’s delicious and refreshing!