A New Twist on a Classic! Deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage

I saw that Stuffed Cabbage or Cabbage Rolls as some call them have started a trend.

A trend to "deconstruct" them.
One of this Blog's Fave Recipe's is my "Stuffed Cabbage"
So much so. that the photo tutorial has been a Pinterest sensation for quite a while!
I understand that Cabbage Rolls can be laborsome, but I have always thought the work was so worth it.

It's genius to think that deconstructing Cabbage Rolls could be an innovative way to bring a Traditional "Sunday Dinner" to the Weeknight Table.
My query was though, will it still be the same? Will it have the same deep flavor of the cabbage, meat and rich comfort food goodness? I had to try it for myself. I found that it was indeed a Great idea! The only thing I would do differently is make the sauce ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge overnight. That might deepen the flavor. Even oven baking doesn't do the same as Whole wrapped roll favorite. Don;t get me wrong. Was it "Good Enough"? You betcha! Is this a Great weeknight meal! Absolutely. Does it take the place of a Sunday Dinner Classic? No. But, it is a Fantastic Idea and I surely will make it again and again!
You will find in the following my newest version of a Sunday Dinner Classic.

Deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage

Ingredients

Small head of Cabbage
1 lb Ground Beef
2 cups Cooked White Rice
4 cups Tomato Juice
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Lemon juice
2-3 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 small Onion  (grated)
1 stalk Celery (grated)
4 tbsp Butter
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:
In a sauce pan,
Saute Onion and Celery in 2 Tbsp Butter
Add Tomato Juice, Lemon juice, Worcestershire Sauce bring to boil.
Once Boiling reduce to medium add Brown Sugar, Salt & Pepper to taste.
Once Sugar has dissolved reduce to Low and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Split and Core a Small Head of Cabbage
Slice cabbage into strips (can be sliced in food processor)
Boil in salted water for 15 minutes or until semi-tender.
Drain and hold aside.

Preheat oven to 375°

In a Saute pan, Warm 2 tbsp Olive Oil and the remaining Butter.
Once Butter is melted add grated Onion and Celery.
Saute them until translucent, Add Ground Beef. Add Salt and Pepper to taste.
When Ground Beef has browned, Add Rice and combine.
Remove from heat. Add 1/2 of the sauce to the Ground Beef / Rice Mixture.
Add Cabbage and combine.
Pour mixture into Baking Dish.
Pour Remaining Sauce over top.
Bake in preheated oven 350°  for 30-40 minutes.

The dish is done when you can see the top browning and bubbly.
Serve & Enjoy!

Mother's Day Fave: Stuffed Cabbage

This Mother's day weekend my Son was 1500 miles away he sent flowers but I had to cook :) So I decided I would make one of my absolute faves! I love Stuffed Cabbage. I updated the recipe to substitute tomato juice for tomato sauce and also included a Pictorial Tutorial to help with assembly.

Hope this make it easier to pass it on! 

I would love it if you "Pinned" it as Tutorials are awesome on Pinterest!

Ingredients:

Medium Head Green Cabbage (par boiled)

(Filling)

1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef

1/2 lb Ground Pork

2 C Cooked Rice

2 Tblsp Olive Oil 

1/2 C Onion (chopped)

1 Tblsp Garlic (chopped)

2 Tblsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp Celery Salt

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Black Pepper

(Sauce)

3 cans (4oz each) Tomato Juice

1/4 medium Onion (grated)

1 stalk Celery (grated)

2-3 Tblsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 C Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp Butter

1 Tblsp Vinegar

1 Tblsp Lemon Juice

Salt & Pepper to taste

Prep:

Cut Head of Cabbage in half.

Remove Core

Place Cabbage in Large Pot, cut side down.

Add Water to Cover.

(Secret: Add 1 Tbsp Baking Soda, 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice and Salt to water. This Baking Soda reduces the gassy "after effect" of the cabbage) The rest is for flavor. ;)

Boil Cabbage until softened to roll. (about 10 mins @ rapid boil)

After 10-15 mins, drain and allow to cool.

Prepare Sauce: 

In a Saucepan, saute grated onion and butter until onion translucent.

Add remaining ingredients, whisk to Combine.

Bring to boil to dissolve sugar. Once sugar is not visible, boil rapidly for 5 minutes.

Cover and Reduce heat to Low. Simmer until ready for it.

Filling: 

In Saute Pan warm Olive Oil.

Saute Ground Beef and Ground Pork in the Olive Oil.

When Meat starts to sear, Add Onion and Garlic.

When Onion is translucent, Add 3-4 tbsp of the Sauce.

Combine.

Lower Heat to Medium Low. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add Cooked Rice.

Combine Well.
Remove from heat when filling is thoroughly combined and heated through.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Prepping Baking Dish:

Cover bottom of  Baking Vessel (I used 13x9x2) with sauce. (about 1/3 of sauce for same size pan)

Making Rolls: 

Place 1 Cabbage Leaf on a flat plate. Using Tbsp, scoop filling and mold into cannell

Place filling at edge of cabbage leaf closest to you.

Fold edges of cabbage inward.

Roll filling into cabbage leaf, folding the ends inward as you continue.

Place Cabbage Roll in baking Vessel with folded edge at bottom of pan

Continue rolling until pan is filled

Cover Cabbage Rolls with Sauce.

Bake @ 400°  for 30 mins. Serve.

Note: For the Sauce. I wanted the onion and the celery grated as I like a smooth sauce. It also seems to have an effect on the onion that makes it less potent. It seems to "melt" into the sauce this way.

It truly was a great outcome. Hope you try it soon!

Enjoy!

Making Stuffed Cabbage tonight!

I'm making an Old Fashioned Favorite!! Stuffed Cabbage!!

 I love a good old fashioned Dinner sometimes!!

It's just warms me up from the inside out. Good old Comfort Food!

Yum!!!

Stuffed Cabbage Recipe

Easter Dinner from my Blog...

As you all know I love a good challenge. My friend Kim over at The Farmers Wife decided that because one of our mutual friends challenged her that she would in turn challenge me. You're saying ok, ok..what's the challenge??? Well the challenge is to make the Easter Holiday meal from dishes we already have on our blog.
now,the only holiday meals I have on my blog were of New Years.. remember the Lobster Ravioli???

But is that an Easter meal??? naaah...

I think I'd rather go with the Stuffed Cabbage if it has to be something from my blog. The Stuffed Cabbage is "Spring" like..in that the freshness of the sauce and the heartiness of the filling combined make it a pretty substantial Meal! Don't you agree?
A wonderful old fashioned Sunday Meal! Love it, in its simplicity yet ohh so good flavor!

Now side dishes are kind of hard to go with Stuffed Cabbage, but a good salad and some home made rolls would be great here!

The homemade rolls I got from Kim would be great here too!!

Now dessert??? Oh I have an array of desserts to choose from...My question here is ..Do I pick difficult or easy?
It's a Holiday..it should be special ...no? Ok, lets go with something spring like...I just passed this recipe along the other day to someone who was looking for something light and springy to take along with her to an Easter Dinner...

My Lemon Coconut Tarts.
They are a great little nosh, that always comes out Perfect!

Well that's the Challenge my friends...My Easter Meal from my Blog...Now if you need Quick and Easy Ideas..You can always pick up my New Cookbook:
5 Ingredient Solutions. It's on sale right here on my Blog or over at Amazon for your Kindle, PC or Iphone. I saw it on Iphone..It was beautiful and in Color! Check it out!

Ok, now I my turn to Tag my friends to do this too!!
Check them out and see how they did1 It's fun!

A Couple in the Kitchen
Diethood
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
Flour Dusted
Southern with a Twist
Sticks Forks Fingers
The Misadventure of Mrs B
My Simply Sweet Life as my Best Friend Wife

Enjoy!!!!!

Stuffed Cabbage, Cabbage Rolls, Galumpkis;A Recipe Quest Fulfilled

Stuffed Cabbage

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