Quick n Easy Stuffed Cabbage Recipe
Though traditional stuffed cabbage recipes are made with meat, here Savoy cabbage leaves are stuffed with a combination of rice, mushrooms, onions, garlic and herbs for a healthy vegetarian stuffed cabbage recipe. The stuffed cabbage leaves gently bake in a simple tomato sauce. This easy stuffed cabbage recipe can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.
Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Additional Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings
Diabetes-Appropriate Dairy-Free Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Low-Sodium Low Added Sugar High-Blood Pressure High-Fiber Heart-Healthy Vegan Vegetarian Gluten-Free Low-Calorie
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water
½ cup short-grain brown rice
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil plus 2 tablespoons, divided
1 large Savoy cabbage (2-3 pounds)
1 pound baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon dried rubbed sage
½ teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper plus 1/8 teaspoon, divided
½ cup red wine
¼ cup dried currants
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (see Tips), chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 28-ounce can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes (see Tips)
½ cup red wine
INSTRUCTIONS:
⭐To prepare cabbage & filling: Combine water, rice and 1 teaspoon oil in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain the barest simmer, cover and cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is just tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
⭐Meanwhile, half fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Line a baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel and place near the stove.
⭐Using a small, sharp knife, remove the core from the bottom of the cabbage. Add the cabbage to the boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. As the leaves soften, use tongs to gently remove 8 large outer leaves. Transfer the leaves to the baking sheet and pat with more towels to thoroughly dry. Set aside.
⭐Drain the remaining cabbage in a colander for a few minutes. Finely chop enough to get about 3 cups. (Save any remaining cabbage for another use.)
⭐Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, sage, rosemary and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until the mushrooms have released their juices and the pan is fairly dry, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring, until evaporated, about 3 minutes more. Add the mixture to the cooked rice along with currants and pine nuts.
⭐Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-high. Add the chopped cabbage, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring, until the cabbage is wilted and just beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add to the rice mixture.
⭐To prepare sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until starting to soften, 2 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine; bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
⭐Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
⭐To stuff cabbage: Place a reserved cabbage leaf on your work surface; cut out the thick stem in the center, keeping the leaf intact. Place about 3/4 cup filling in the center. Fold both sides over the filling and roll up. Repeat with the remaining 7 leaves and filling.
⭐Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place the stuffed cabbage rolls, seam side down, on the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the rolls and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
⭐Bake, uncovered, basting twice with the sauce, until hot, about 45 minutes.
Make Ahead Tip
Prepare through Step 10, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
For the Best Flavor
Toast nuts and seeds before using in a recipe. To toast small nuts, chopped nuts & seeds, place in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
Sodium Variation
Sodium amounts vary widely among brands of plum and crushed. And although it can be hard to find any labeled “no-salt-added,” for the best tomato flavor we use brands that have little or no added sodium. Compare nutrition labels and choose one that has 190 mg sodium or less per 1/2-cup serving.
Nutritional Info:
Serving Size 2 rolls
calories544 total fat 24g saturated fat 3g sodium 499mg total carbohydrate 61g dietary fiber 12g total sugars 22g protein 14g vitamin c 71mg calcium 132mg iron 7mg potassium 1833mg