Unstuffed Cabbage | Cookies and Cups

Unstuffed cabbage is a faster solution to benefit from the savory taste of conventional cabbage rolls! This deconstructed model is made with juicy floor beef and pork mixed with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, and seasonings in a flavorful and straightforward one-pot meal.

Why You’ll Love This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe

Cabbage rolls are a standard European meal, and this deconstructed model is quick changing into certainly one of our favourite weeknight dinners! Right here’s why you’ll need this recipe for wealthy and savory unstuffed cabbage on rotation, simply in time for the cooler climate:

• Time-saving. Quick on time through the week? Make hearty unstuffed cabbage in 45 minutes or much less from begin to end. The elements are budget-friendly, obtainable just about in all places, and simply customizable.
• Superb taste. This recipe is fast to make and stuffed with scrumptious taste due to juicy floor meat, tangy tomatoes, caramelized onions, and a mouthwatering mixture of herbs and spices. 
• One-pot. Making conventional cabbage rolls casserole-style is the best solution to get pleasure from all these superior flavors with a fraction of the hassle. Convey all of the elements collectively in a single pot on the stovetop as an alternative!
• Nice leftovers. Make an enormous batch of unstuffed cabbage and save the leftovers for satisfying meals, all week lengthy. This recipe shops and freezes effectively, and there are such a lot of methods you could serve it. 

We love turning cheap, simple elements into scrumptious one-skillet dinners. Should you’re on the lookout for one other weeknight one-pot marvel, do this tacky skillet hen parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!

Elements in Unstuffed Cabbage

You may be pondering, “That appears like a number of elements!” However don’t fear. Every thing you see right here is simple to seek out in nearly any grocery retailer. Beneath, I embody some fast ingredient notes to get you began. Don’t neglect to scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the submit with the whole elements listing, quantities, and recipe directions. 

• Olive Oil, Onion, and Garlic – Diced onion and garlic sautéd in oil kind the fragrant taste base of the soup.
• Floor Meat – I like to make use of a mixture of floor pork sausage and lean floor beef for the utmost taste. You’ll be able to simply make this recipe with any floor meat you will have available, although. See the part additional on for variation concepts.
• Tomatoes  – Canned tomatoes work nice, and fire-roasted tomatoes carry one other layer of taste. You’ll additionally want a can of tomato paste.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Crimson wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, and even balsamic additionally works.
• Worcestershire Sauce – To offer this unstuffed cabbage successful of umami richness.
• Seasonings – I exploit thyme, paprika (candy or smoked), brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and beef bouillon. I’m a fan of the Higher Than Bouillon model.
• Cabbage – You’ll want chopped or shredded inexperienced cabbage. You should use two small cabbages or one medium to large-sized cabbage, sufficient to fill 10 cups.

What Form of Cabbage Ought to I Use?

In brief: Any variety that you simply’d like! Savoy cabbage (additionally referred to as winter cabbage) and napa cabbage are the primary selections when making cabbage rolls, and so they’ll additionally work effectively right here. However the fantastic thing about unstuffed cabbage is you could make this recipe with just about any sort of cabbage you could find. White cabbage and inexperienced cabbage are good choices. Even pink cabbage will work, although remember that it would bleed coloration into the dish.

How you can Make Unstuffed Cabbage

Why spend hours prepping and rolling cabbage rolls when packing all that goodness into one pot is this simple? Let’s get began!

• Sauté. First, sauté the onions in a big pot with oil. As soon as the onions are softened, add the bottom beef and pork sausage, and prepare dinner till totally browned. Lastly, stir within the garlic.
• Mix. Drain any extra grease from the pan earlier than including the tomatoes and tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, seasonings, and bouillon. Convey the contents to a boil.

• Add the cabbage. Subsequent, stir within the shredded cabbage after which place the lid on the pot. Decrease the warmth and simmer the cabbage for 25-Half-hour, till tender.
• Serve and luxuriate in! Dish up this unstuffed cabbage heat over fluffy rice together with your favourite sides. See under for concepts.

Recipe Suggestions and Variation Concepts

Listed here are some last-minute suggestions for the very best unstuffed cabbage, together with some recipe variations you could strive:

• Don’t overcook. Until you’re going for mushy cabbage, watch out that you simply don’t overcook it. My favourite texture for cabbage is softened however nonetheless slightly crisp. However, in case your cooked cabbage is on the harder facet, it’s an indication that it could must prepare dinner for longer.
• Change up the meat. Instead of pork sausage, be happy to make this recipe with solely floor beef. You should use different leaner meat, too, like floor hen or floor turkey. Spicy Italian sausage would additionally give this dish a pleasant kick.
• Extra veggies. You’ll be able to positively fill this unstuffed cabbage recipe with any greens your coronary heart wishes (or any veggies that you’ve within the fridge). Attempt dicing up zucchini, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, or add in frozen peas, spinach, or kale.
• Add raisins. Instead of brown sugar, add raisins! Golden raisins or Sultanas add a scrumptious candy stability to the tangy tomato sauce.
• Totally different seasonings. Should you don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you’ll be able to mess around with totally different spices in accordance with your choice. Instead of thyme, strive rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.

Serving Ideas

We love unstuffed cabbage served over fluffy white rice (or On the spot Pot butter rice) or home made egg noodles, topped with bitter cream. For a straightforward vegetable facet dish, strive tender-crisp air fryer asparagus, steamed or roasted broccoli, a cool cucumber salad, or a flavorful Mediterranean couscous salad. To actually spherical out your meal, serve your unstuffed cabbage with a basket of bitter cream cornbread or home made baguette for mopping up further tomato broth.

In search of a straightforward meal prep concept? Make unstuffed cabbage bowls over a mattress of rice or grains. And don’t neglect home made Polish kolaczki for dessert!

Storing and Reheating Unstuffed Cabbage

• Fridge. This recipe makes nice leftovers. Permit your unstuffed cabbage to chill to room temperature, after which retailer it hermetic. It retains within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Get pleasure from tasty meals for the remainder of the week!
• To Reheat. Heat leftovers within the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop till they’re scorching all through.
• Freezer. Cool the unstuffed cabbage fully, after which switch it to an hermetic container to freeze for as much as 2-3 months. Thaw it within the fridge earlier than reheating.

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