Cabbage Rolls

Just like the mama used to make! This was my first time trying this recipe, one that mom used to make when we were younger, one of my Grampy's Favorites! When I was a cook in Alberta one of the Chef's I worked under was part Ukrainian and the cabbage rolls he made were unreal! But like any recipe, nothing could measure up to Mom's, and its probably just because shes mom and anything she makes is amazing!

So for some reason I just had a hankerin for some cabbage rolls, so I googled an outrageous amount of recipes and then finally came to my senses and made the phone call home. Who was I kidding Google can't even compare to a phone call home.


So these can be made in two ways, the traditional way (which is how I did it last night) or the lazy mans way (which I made and put in the freezer. OH YEAH! They freeze perfectly!) So here is the recipe and directions for the traditional cabbage roll!

Cabbage Rolls

1 lrg cabbage (bigger leaves make easier work)

My cabbage was a little too small, worked just the same but if you can get a bigger one, it makes wrapping the meatballs up way easier.

Using a knife, and being super careful, cut the core (or most of it) out of the cabbage. This way the leaves come off a lot easier when they are cooking.

Fill a pot with salted water and bring to a boil, take the core out of the cabbage and drop into the boiling water. Boil until you can pull the leaves off, and they are slightly cooked. Put on a plate to cool while the rest of the cabbage is still boiling. Every once in awhile, use your tongs and turn the cabbage over so all sides cook.

2lbs ground beef

3 eggs

1 c Minute Rice

Bread Crumbs

(sprinkle in about a 1/4 c and go from there, add more if they are still goupy)

Mix all together, this is your cabbage roll filling.

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cans tomato soup

onion. diced

green pepper, diced

2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

OR 2 tsp minced garlic (if you buy the jars)

Italian seasoning

S&P

What I did was blended most of the diced tomatoes for a second in the magic bullet just so it would be a little more saucy (to pour over the rice). You can do this or just leave it as diced tomatoes.

Mix all ingredients right in your baking dish.

Now the exciting part! Make your meat mixture into meatballs, remember you have to wrap them in the cabbage leaves. If you bought a small cabbage make them a little smaller, if you bought a bigger cabbage...well you get it!  Put your meatball in the center of the cabbage leaf and wrap it as if you were folding a soft tortilla. Bringboth ends up over the meatball and roll it.

not a very appetizing picture, but gives you a good visual for sizing and what the heck Im talkin about.

Place the little cabbage bundle in your pan with the sauce so the smooth side is up, dont want them coming apart. They are ready for the oven! Pop them in the oven for 1 hour at about 300.



They look so much better when they come out of the oven! I think you'd agree.


At our house we always had these with rice, yes rice in them rice with them! But you poured some sauce over the rice and it was just sooo good. So I made some rice to go with it, little beef stock, little celery, little butter. Had flavor but not too much, you want the flavor from the sauce. Voila!! Cabbage Rolls a la Bre Bre's Mom!

If you've never had cabbage rolls you may not think this looks all that appetizing, but give them a chance! My picky husband ate them (sans cabbage) and my 4 year old who doesnt eat meat even ate a whole one.

Next time you find yourself in a supper rut (cuz we all get there) try this recipe. Cabbage, rice and ground beef....easy on the pocket book and pretty easy to make. OH! Speaking of which heres the lazy man's version.

Make up the sauce, the meatball mixture and par-boil the cabbage. Using your knife shread the cabbage, cut it up, small pieces. However you feel like really, then mix it into your sauce. Make up the meatballs and bury them in your cabbage and sauce mixture, Cook for 1 hour at 300. Done!

Like I said before you can also freeze this! So make it all up, and throw one in the oven for supper and wrap one up for the freezer for another night you don't feel like cooking!