Cabbage Rolls
My Mom used to make these with seasoned hamburger and rice. We loved them, but I loved anything made with cabbage. I still do.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
Sauce
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tsp oregano
1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp. Maple syrup, optional
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Filling
15 cabbage leaves
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp dried basil
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
½ cup tomato sauce
3 Tbsp tahini
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
3½ cups cooked millet or bulgur wheat
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Make the Sauce
- Saute the onion in a large skillet over medium heat for 7-8 minutes until the onions start to brown and turn translucent. Add water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed, to keep them from sticking to the pan.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, and oregano and cook for another minute.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and maple syrup and simmer for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Make the filling
- In a large pot of boiling water, blanch cabbage leaves until tender and flexible, about 1 minute. Set aside.
- Saute the onion, carrot and celery in a large skillet over medium heat for 7-8 minutes until the onions start to turn brown and translucent. Add water 1 to 2 minutes at a time, as needed, to keep the vegetables from browning.
- Add the garlic, basil and nutmeg and cook for another minute.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Assemble the Cabbage Rolls
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a large baking dish.
- Using a paring knife, cut out the hard triangular rib from each cabbage leaf. Place about ⅓ cup filling into one end of each leaf, then roll it up, tucking in the sides as you roll. Place rolls seam side-down on top of the sauce in the baking dish. Spoon the remaining sauce on top of cabbage rolls and bake them for 25 minutes.