Recipe: Sesame Ginger Shrimp and Cabbage Stew

Sheri Castle
Sheri Castle
Sheri Castle is a professional food writer, recipe developer, recipetester, and culinary instructor. She is known for melding storytelling, humor, and culinary expertise, so she can tell a tale while making a memorable meal.
updated Jan 29, 2020
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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

When the temperature drops in January, what we really want is food that fills us up and nourishes at the same time. So start your day with a hearty smoothie, but finish it with a wholesome stew. This is one of a series of stews designed to make you feel good in every possible way. Brimming with veggies and spices, each of these wholesome stews will support and reward your best New Year’s intentions.

Imagine a bowl of food that tastes as fresh as a stir-fry, reminds you of your favorite dumplings, and has the aromatic broth of a good noodle bowl, all in the form of a delicious and nuanced stew.

The ingredient list might look long, but much of it is Asian ingredients that keep well for months, meaning you can have them on hand to use in this and other recipes. A well-stocked pantry is one of the smartest strategies for time-saving recipes and cooking on the fly.

For best results, don’t overcook the stew or the shrimp that go in at the end. This recipe comes together quickly, proving that not all stews need to simmer a long while. The cilantro, mint, and basil added just before serving are both garnish and powerful flavor and aroma boost. So if you know you’ll be enjoying this stew for several days, add a little of the fresh herbs each time you reheat so that you can enjoy their full effect.

(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

Proof That Fast Stews Can Still Be Flavorful

The star of this recipe is the flavor-packed broth. If you have time to peel the fresh shrimp, use their shells in the broth to extract every bit of their flavor, although it’s not a deal breaker if you use a package of frozen peeled shrimp instead. When making the broth without chicken (so that it’s suitable for pescetarians), preserve its lovely golden color by using a box of vegetarian “no-chicken” broth that is pale yellow rather than the ruddy color of vegetable broths that rely heavily on tomatoes and carrots.

If you omit the shrimp and use vegetable broth, this is vegan stew (vegan stew!) that will appeal to eaters of all stripes.

Sesame Ginger Shrimp and Cabbage Stew

Serves 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the broth:

  • 1 teaspoon

    peanut or vegetable oil

  • Shells from 1 pound (31/35 count) shrimp, rinsed and blotted dry (optional)

  • 8 cups

    (2 quarts) vegetarian no-chicken broth or regular chicken broth

  • 1

    large lemongrass stalk, chopped

  • 2 ounces

    fresh ginger, thinly sliced

  • Coarsely chopped green tops from 2 bunches scallion (about 1 1/2 cups)

  • Stems from 8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms

  • 3 large cloves

    garlic, crushed

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    whole Sichuan peppercorns, or 1 star anise pod

For the stew:

  • 1 tablespoon

    peanut or vegetable oil

  • 1

    large onion, halved and thinly sliced (about 2 1/2 cups)

  • 8 ounces

    medium carrots, thinly sliced on the diagonal (about 2 cups)

  • Caps from 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)

  • 2 cloves

    garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 pound

    Savoy cabbage, quartered, cored, and shredded (about 6 cups)

  • 12 ounces

    baby bok choy, shredded (about 4 cups)

  • 1/4 cup

    soy sauce or tamari

  • 2 tablespoons

    Asian sweet chile paste

  • 2 tablespoons

    mirin or dry sherry

  • 2 tablespoons

    toasted sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoon

    black Chinese vinegar (optional)

  • 1 pound

    (31/35 count) uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 2

    scallion bunches (white parts only), thinly sliced on the diagonal

  • 1/4 cup

    fresh cilantro leaves, torn

  • 1/4 cup

    fresh mint leaves, torn

  • 1/4 cup

    fresh Thai basil leaves, torn

Instructions

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Make the broth:

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. If using the shrimp shells, stir them into the oil and cook until bright pink, about 1 minute, stirring continuously.

  2. Stir in the broth, lemongrass, ginger, scallion tops, shiitake stems, garlic, and peppercorns or star anise. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl, pressing firmly on the solids. Discard the solids and set the broth aside. Wipe out the pot to use for the stew.

Make the stew:

  1. Heat the oil in the pot over high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring continuously, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and bok choy and cook, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes.

  2. Add the reserved ginger broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

  3. Stir in the soy sauce or tamari, chile paste, mirin, sesame oil, and black vinegar if using. Simmer 1 minute. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning, if needed.

  4. Remove the pot from the heat, stir in the shrimp, cover, and let stand until the shrimp are no longer opaque, about 3 minutes. Do not overcook the shrimp.

  5. Sprinkle the scallions, cilantro, mint, and basil over the top and serve immediately. Offer additional soy sauce or tamari, chile paste, and black vinegar at the table.

Recipe Notes

  • Make ahead: The cooled broth can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.