Middle Eastern Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

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A Mediterranean alternative to beef stuffed cabbage rolls. Simmer the vegetarian stuffed leaves in tomato sauce with basil and cinnamon and you're ready to roll!

Middle Eastern Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Recipe | CDKitchen.com (1)


serves/makes:

ready in:

1-2 hrs

5 reviews
1 comment


ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 head cabbage
1 cup lentils
3 cans (28 ounce size) crushed tomatoes
4 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large green or red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup raisins (may use currants, raisins, or apricots)
3/4 cup toasted almonds, coarsely chopped

directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and turmeric. Return to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan and let cook for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Meanwhile, bring another large pan of water to a boil. Carefully cut out the core from the head of cabbage. Gently tear off the larger leaves, keeping them whole. Discard any wilted or tattered leaves. Add the leaves to the pan of water and cook for 10 minutes or until soft. Drain well and let the leaves cool.

Bring 3 cups of water to boil in another pan. Add the lentils and cook until soft, about 15 minutes.

Prepare the sauce by combining the crushed tomatoes, basil, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

In a skillet over medium heat. Combine the oil, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft.

Transfer the onion mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked rice, cooked lentils, beaten eggs, almonds, and raisins. Quickly mix together.

Place a cabbage leaf on a flat work surface. Fill with 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of the rice filling (depending on how large the leaf is). Fold the thick end of the leaf up over the filling, then fold in the sides. Roll up. Place seam-side down in a baking dish. Repeat with remaining leaves.

Spoon the sauce over the stuffed cabbage rolls. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 45-60 minutes or until heated through.

Serve the vegetarian stuffed cabbage hot.


nutrition data

572 calories, 22 grams fat, 80 grams carbohydrates, 22 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in sodium.



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CURTIDO SALVADORENO (CABBAGE RELISH FROM EL SALVADOR)


reviews & comments

  1. Cabbage roll virgin REVIEW:
    June 8, 2020

    Each of the individual flavors in this piece are unique and tasty! I followed the measurements on filling and I ended up with twice as much as I needed. I don’t know if my cabbage was small or what. So I grabbed some grape leaves and some zucchini and stuffed them as well. But next time I’ll cut this recipe in half!

  2. Lchahir REVIEW:
    January 19, 2020

    I just made this for my family. It is a wonderful dish. I didn't have red peppers so I used eggplant instead. I will make this again.

  3. Cyndy REVIEW:
    July 25, 2013

    I've always loathed the "cabbage rolls" made with tomato sauce, ground beef and rice. This is how cabbage rolls should be! The filling is full of so much flavor and basmati rice gives it that hint of nut flavor along with the toasted almonds (make sure you toast them!). Lentils are a wonderful meat subsitute so don't think you'll be hungry eating this vegetarian food it is very filling and satisfying. The sauce has that warm mid-eastern flavor with the cinnamon in it. Really an outstanding recipe.

  4. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    April 4, 2011

    Make sure to cook cabbage leaves before trying to stuff them--boil or simmer about 5 minutes.

  5. Google user REVIEW:
    September 4, 2010

    A solid and flavorful dish that I've liked enough to make multiple times.

  6. Seasoned chef October 14, 2008

    I'm about to make this but am confused about the ingredients although I'm sure I can "fudge" it!The ingredient list calls for 2 large beaten eggs but there is no mention of eggs in the preparation. Also in the directions for the sauce, vinegar is mentioned but there is no mention of vinegar in the list of ingredients.It would also be helpful to note approximately how long the lentils need to (boil/simmer?) to become soft and whether the pan should be covered or uncovered.I'm looking forward to a delicious dish and will repost when it's done. Cheers!

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      The eggs are mentioned with the other filling ingredients (vegetables, rice, lentils). I have no idea where you see vinegar in the directions, however.

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Middle Eastern Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

FAQs

What country does stuffed cabbage come from? ›

Stuffed cabbage is a dish that is found in many cuisines around the world, including Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and Asian cuisines. However, it is often associated with countries such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Hungary, where it is a traditional dish.

Why is my stuffed cabbage meat tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

What is Polish stuffed cabbage made of? ›

"Polish cabbage rolls (filled with a mixture of rice, pork, and beef) stewed in tomatoes.

Why is stuffed cabbage good for you? ›

Like its relatives, cabbage is high in anti-cancer and detoxifying sulfur-containing compounds. It is also very high in vitamins K and C and a good source of beta-carotene.

Why do Eastern Europeans eat cabbage? ›

Because it takes a product which can grow quickly and plentifully in a climate which has a short growing season in Cabbage, and turns in into a nutritional food that can be stored through the long hard winter.

What ethnicity is cabbage rolls? ›

Although the direct heritage of cabbage rolls cannot be certain, it's lineage can be traced back to Jewish cooking some 2,000 years ago. Recipes vary among Jewish communities depending on region; Romanians and northern Poles prefer a savory sauce, while Jews from Galicia and Ukraine favor sweet-and-sour.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

Why is my cabbage bitter after cooking? ›

One common reason is that the cabbage may have been overcooked. Overcooking cabbage releases sulfur compounds that can give it a bitter taste.

Why does cabbage smell so bad when cooking? ›

And that smell? That is due to the sulphur present in cabbage. The more you cook it, the stronger the smell of sulphur. It has been suggested that you put a slice of bread or lemon juice in the water you are using to cook the cabbage, in order to limit the odor.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

What is the purple stuff in cabbage? ›

What is responsible for the color purple on red cabbage? The color purple on red cabbage is caused by the presence of anthocyanin.

How many days is stuffed cabbage good for? ›

Do you want to eat the stuffed cabbage in the next week? If so, place them in the refrigerator. The stuffed cabbage will stay fresh for up to 1 week. If not, place them in the freezer.

What happens to your body when you eat cabbage? ›

It's Good for Your Digestion

Cabbage has 1 gram of fiber for every 10 calories. That helps fill you up, so you eat less. It also keeps you regular, and it could help lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and control your blood sugar. Cabbage also has nutrients that keep the lining of your stomach and intestines strong.

What does cabbage do to your insides? ›

It helps improve digestion

This crunchy vegetable is full of gut-friendly insoluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that can't be broken down in the intestines. Insoluble fiber helps keep the digestive system healthy by adding bulk to stool and promoting regular bowel movements ( 24 ).

Does cabbage cleanse your body? ›

Cabbage does double detox duty. Its diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it. Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled.

Is stuffed cabbage Irish or Polish? ›

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a popular Polish dish. Pork and beef mixed with rice or barley are nestled in a cabbage leaf and cooked in the oven or on the stove until tender. The cabbage rolls are called gołąbki in Polish, holubky by Czechs and Slovaks, or sarma / сарма by Serbs, Croatians and Bulgarians.

Which country invented cabbage rolls? ›

Initially, cabbage rolls were created by the Turkish, who claim to be the original cookers of the dish. But as they conquered more and more territory, the recipe was spread and adapted by tens of other countries.

What culture does cabbage come from? ›

Cabbage was most likely domesticated somewhere in Europe in ancient history before 1000 BC. Cabbage use in cuisine has been documented since Antiquity. It was described as a table luxury in the Roman Empire.

Where did stuffed vegetables originate? ›

Stuffed vegetable dishes have been a part of West Asian Cuisine for centuries. Recipes for stuffed eggplant have been found in Medieval Arabic cookbooks and, in Ancient Greek cuisine, fig leaves stuffed with sweetened cheese were called thrion. The word dolma, of Turkish origin, means "something stuffed" or "filled".

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