Unstuffed cabbage is a faster approach 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 simple one-pot meal.
Why You’ll Love This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe
Cabbage rolls are a conventional 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 throughout 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 every single place, and simply customizable.
Wonderful taste. This recipe is fast to make and filled with scrumptious taste because of 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 simplest approach to get pleasure from all these superior flavors with a fraction of the hassle. Deliver all of the elements collectively in a single pot on the stovetop as a substitute!
Nice leftovers. Make a giant batch of unstuffed cabbage and save the leftovers for satisfying meals, all week lengthy. This recipe shops and freezes nicely, and there are such a lot of methods which you can serve it.
We love turning cheap, simple elements into scrumptious one-skillet dinners. Should you’re searching for one other weeknight one-pot marvel, do that tacky skillet chicken parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!
Elements in Unstuffed Cabbage
You may be considering, “That appears like a number of elements!” However don’t fear. All the pieces you see right here is simple to seek out in nearly any grocery retailer. Beneath, I embrace some fast ingredient notes to get you began. Don’t overlook to scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the put up 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 mix 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 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 – Pink wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, and even balsamic additionally works.
Worcestershire Sauce – To provide this unstuffed cabbage a success 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 utilize two small cabbages or one medium to large-sized cabbage, sufficient to fill 10 cups.
What Form of Cabbage Ought to I Use?
Briefly: Any type that you simply’d like! Savoy cabbage (additionally referred to as winter cabbage) and napa cabbage are the primary decisions when making cabbage rolls, and so they’ll additionally work nicely right here. However the fantastic thing about unstuffed cabbage is which you can make this recipe with just about any sort of cabbage yow will discover. White cabbage and inexperienced cabbage are good choices. Even purple cabbage will work, although understand 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 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 revel 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 below are some last-minute suggestions for the very best unstuffed cabbage, together with some recipe variations which you can attempt:
Don’t overcook. Except 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. Then again, in case your cooked cabbage is on the harder facet, it’s an indication that it could have to prepare dinner for longer.
Change up the meat. Rather than pork sausage, be happy to make this recipe with solely floor beef. You should utilize 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 wishes (or any veggies that you’ve got within the fridge). Strive 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 steadiness to the tangy tomato sauce.
Completely different seasonings. Should you don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you possibly can mess around with totally different spices based on your desire. Rather than thyme, attempt rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.
Searching for a simple meal prep thought? Make unstuffed cabbage bowls over a mattress of rice or grains. And don’t overlook 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. Take pleasure in 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 utterly, 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.
Unstuffed cabbage is a faster approach to benefit from the savory taste of conventional cabbage rolls! That is a simple one-pot meal made with juicy floor beef and pork mixed with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, and seasonings.
1 teaspoon beef bouillon (I like to make use of Higher Than Bouillon model)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
10 cups chopped cabbage
In a 5-quart Dutch oven (or 10-inch deep skillet), warmth the olive oil over medium warmth. Add within the onions and prepare dinner till softened.
Flip the warmth as much as medium-high, add within the floor pork and floor beef, and prepare dinner till no extra pink stays, breaking up any massive items. Add within the garlic and prepare dinner for 1 minute. Drain any extra liquid or fats from the pot.
Add within the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, smoked paprika, bouillon, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix and produce to a boil. Add within the cabbage, stir to include, after which cowl the pot. Cut back the warmth to medium-low and prepare dinner for 25 – Half-hour, or till the cabbage is to desired tenderness.
Serve heat.
Notes
You possibly can serve this over rice as an possibility.
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
