Unstuffed Cabbage | Cookies and Cups

Unstuffed cabbage is a faster strategy 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 turning into one in every 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. Brief on time throughout the week? Make hearty unstuffed cabbage in 45 minutes or much less from begin to end. The substances are budget-friendly, accessible just about all over the place, 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 strategy to get pleasure from all these superior flavors with a fraction of the trouble. Deliver all of the substances collectively in a single pot on the stovetop as an alternative!
• Nice leftovers. Make a giant 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 which you could serve it. 

We love turning cheap, simple substances into scrumptious one-skillet dinners. Should you’re searching for one other weeknight one-pot surprise, do that tacky skillet chicken parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!

Components in Unstuffed Cabbage

You is likely to be considering, “That appears like numerous substances!” However don’t fear. All the pieces you see right here is simple to search out in nearly any grocery retailer. Under, I embrace some fast ingredient notes to get you began. Don’t neglect to scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the put up with the entire substances checklist, 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 possibly can simply make this recipe with any floor meat you’ve readily available, although. See the part additional on for variation concepts.
• Tomatoes  – Canned tomatoes work nice, and fire-roasted tomatoes deliver one other layer of taste. You’ll additionally want a can of tomato paste.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Purple wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, and even balsamic additionally works.
• Worcestershire Sauce – To present this unstuffed cabbage a success of umami richness.
• Seasonings – I take advantage of 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 need to use two small cabbages or one medium to large-sized cabbage, sufficient to fill 10 cups.

What Sort of Cabbage Ought to I Use?

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

The right way to 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 completely 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. Deliver 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 along with your favourite sides. See beneath for concepts.

Recipe Ideas and Variation Concepts

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

• Don’t overcook. Until you’re going for mushy cabbage, watch out that you just don’t overcook it. My favourite texture for cabbage is softened however nonetheless a bit crisp. However, in case your cooked cabbage is on the more durable facet, it’s an indication that it might must prepare dinner for longer.
• Change up the meat. Rather than pork sausage, be at liberty to make this recipe with solely floor beef. You need to use different leaner meat, too, like floor rooster or floor turkey. Spicy Italian sausage would additionally give this dish a pleasant kick.
• Extra veggies. You possibly can positively fill this unstuffed cabbage recipe with any greens your coronary heart needs (or any veggies that you’ve got within the fridge). Attempt dicing up zucchini, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, or add in frozen peas, spinach, or kale.
• Add raisins. Rather than brown sugar, add raisins! Golden raisins or Sultanas add a scrumptious candy stability to the tangy tomato sauce.
• Completely different seasonings. Should you don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you may mess around with completely different spices in line with your desire. Rather than thyme, strive rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.

Serving Options

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

In search of a simple meal prep thought? Make unstuffed cabbage bowls over a mattress of rice or grains. And don’t neglect do-it-yourself 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 sizzling 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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