Unstuffed cabbage is a faster option 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 standard European meal, and this deconstructed model is quick changing 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. Quick on time in the course of the week? Make hearty unstuffed cabbage in 45 minutes or much less from begin to end. The substances are budget-friendly, obtainable just about in all places, and simply customizable.
Wonderful taste. This recipe is fast to make and stuffed 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 best option to get pleasure from all these superior flavors with a fraction of the hassle. Carry all of the substances collectively in a single pot on the stovetop as an alternative!
Nice leftovers. Make an enormous 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 that you would be able to serve it.
We love turning cheap, straightforward substances into scrumptious one-skillet dinners. In case you’re on the lookout for one other weeknight one-pot surprise, do this tacky skillet chicken parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!
Elements in Unstuffed Cabbage
You is perhaps pondering, “That appears like a number of substances!” However don’t fear. Every little thing you see right here is straightforward to seek out in nearly any grocery retailer. Beneath, I embrace some fast ingredient notes to get you began. Don’t neglect to scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the publish with the entire substances checklist, quantities, and recipe directions.
Olive Oil, Onion, and Garlic – Diced onion and garlic sautéd in oil type 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’ll be able to simply make this recipe with any floor meat you have got readily available, although. See the part additional on for variation concepts.
Tomatoes – Canned tomatoes work nice, and fire-roasted tomatoes convey 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 successful of umami richness.
Seasonings – I exploit thyme, paprika (candy or smoked), brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and beef bouillon. I’m keen on 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 Sort of Cabbage Ought to I Use?
In brief: Any form 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 great thing about unstuffed cabbage is that you would be able to make this recipe with just about any sort of cabbage you will discover. White cabbage and inexperienced cabbage are good choices. Even crimson cabbage will work, although needless to say it is going to bleed colour into the dish.
Methods to Make Unstuffed Cabbage
Why spend hours prepping and rolling cabbage rolls when packing all that goodness into one pot is this straightforward? 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. Carry 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 together with your favourite sides. See under for concepts.
Recipe Ideas and Variation Concepts
Listed below are some last-minute ideas for the very best unstuffed cabbage, together with some recipe variations that you would be able to strive:
Don’t overcook. Except you’re going for mushy cabbage, watch out that you just don’t overcook it. My favourite texture for cabbage is softened however nonetheless somewhat crisp. Alternatively, in case your cooked cabbage is on the more durable 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’ll be able to 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.
Totally different seasonings. In case you don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you possibly can mess around with completely different spices based on your choice. Rather than thyme, strive rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.
Searching for a simple meal prep concept? 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. 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 sizzling 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 option 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 giant 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 convey 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’ll be able to serve this over rice as an possibility.
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
