By Devi Poojari
January 6, 2026
A deliciously crunchy accompaniment to rice bowls, sandwich fillings or even as a salad, this easy pickled cabbage recipe uses simple ingredients to produce a delicacy that is umami-forward. Swap a regular head of cabbage with red cabbage to add further colour to your plate.
½ cabbage, shredded 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 2 cloves garlic, grated 1 tablespoon salt ½ teaspoon miso paste (optional) ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper
Salt the cabbage generously and use your hands to mix it thoroughly before setting aside.
Gently toast the sesame seeds and crush them coarsely before sprinkling over the salted cabbage.
Mix together the miso paste, sesame oil and garlic before drizzling it over the mixture.
Add the black pepper and toss thoroughly; serve at room temperature alongside a meal.