Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Written by McDonald, T.  |  Date 30th of August 2022 

I was looking for something different and stumbled across a Polish dish for cabbage rolls.  On further investigation, I noticed how I could make it vegan.  I remembered using lentils in the stuffing instead of mince beef, but it needed something else.  As I tested the stuffing out, I realised I could make it extra special by adding some Goan spice to the mix, which i did and it was good!

Notes

• If you are worried about nutrition, you can add some nooch (nutritional yeast with B12).
• It helps to think about the timing in this recipe.  The lentils and rice can be cooked together in the same saucepan at the start of preparation.  
• If the cabbage leave has a very big steamy bit, you can shave some of it of with a knife to help with its flexibility.  It is best to do this after boiling.
• Don't over fill the parcels or it will be difficult to roll them up.
  

Ingredients 

• Cabbage leaves (3 per person) 

For Stuffing

• Red lentils 1/4 cup
• Brown rice, 2 tbsp
  
• Mushroom 2 medium, finely chopped
  
• Carrot, finely chopped, 30g
  
• Parsnip  finely chopped, 30g
  
• Onion, finely chopped, 30g
  
• Goan spice powder x 1/2 tsp
  
• Sugar, 1/8 tsp 
  
• Salt, a pinch
  
• White pepper, 1/8 tsp
  

For the sauce 

• Chopped tomatoes (Either a tin or fresh)
• Chopped onion, 20g
  
• Olive oil, 1 tbsp
  
• Cider vinegar, 2 tbsp 
• 2 cloves of garlic.
  
• Salt, pinch
  
• Black pepper ground, 1/4 tsp

Method

Step 1 - Create the stuffing

1. Boil the lentils and brown rice.
   
2. Finely chop the carrot, parsnip, onion, mushroom and mix in a small to medium bowl.
3. Start to boil some water for the cabbage leaves but don't put the cabbage leaves in yet.
4. Add the Goan spice, white pepper, olive oil, salt and sugar. Git a good mix with a wooden spoon.
   

Stuffing for the cabbage

Step 3 - Make the sauce

1. Poor the tomatoes into a bowl. 
2. Chop the onion and garlic then add them to the bowl.
3. Add the oil and cider vinegar to the mix. 
4. Give it a good stir and set aside.
   

Step 3 - Stuff, cover and bake

1. Boil the cabbage leaves for 30 seconds to a minute just to soften the leaves. 
2. Spoon some of the stuffing onto each leave and roll it up. 
3. Place in a suitable dish and cover with the tomato sauce. 
4. Bake for 20 minutes on the middle shelve at 200C.
   

Boil the leaves to soften them

Wrap the stuffing in the leaves

Cabbage rolls

Cabbage rolls in tomato sauce

Results

Fantastic! This was much better than I thought it would be and i immediately knew I was going to make this again. Yeas there is a bit of work with the chopping and using different pans, but oh boy is it worth it! You really have to try this.

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