Unstuffed cabbage is a faster technique 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 considered 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 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 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 technique to take pleasure in all these superior flavors with a fraction of the hassle. Carry all of the substances collectively in a single pot on the stovetop as a substitute!
Nice leftovers. Make an enormous batch of unstuffed cabbage and save the leftovers for satisfying meals, all week lengthy. This recipe shops and freezes properly, and there are such a lot of methods which you could serve it.
We love turning cheap, simple substances into scrumptious one-skillet dinners. If you happen to’re in search of one other weeknight one-pot surprise, do this tacky skillet chicken parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!
Components in Unstuffed Cabbage
You could be pondering, “That appears like lots of substances!” However don’t fear. The whole lot you see right here is simple to seek out in nearly any grocery retailer. Under, I embody 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 whole substances record, 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 possibly can simply make this recipe with any floor meat you might have readily available, although. See the part additional on for variation concepts.
Tomatoes – Canned tomatoes work nice, and fire-roasted tomatoes carry 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 offer 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 simply’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 properly right here. However the great 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.
How one 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 cook dinner till totally 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 Suggestions and Variation Concepts
Listed below 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 simply don’t overcook it. My favourite texture for cabbage is softened however nonetheless just a little crisp. However, in case your cooked cabbage is on the harder facet, it’s an indication that it might have to cook dinner for longer.
Change up the meat. Instead of 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 needs (or any veggies that you’ve within the fridge). Attempt dicing up zucchini, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, or add in frozen peas, spinach, or kale.
Add raisins. Instead of brown sugar, add raisins! Golden raisins or Sultanas add a scrumptious candy steadiness to the tangy tomato sauce.
Completely different seasonings. If you happen to don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you’ll be able to mess around with totally different spices in accordance with your desire. Instead of thyme, strive rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.
Searching for a straightforward meal prep concept? Make unstuffed cabbage bowls over a mattress of rice or grains. And don’t neglect 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. 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 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 technique to benefit from the savory taste of conventional cabbage rolls! That is a straightforward 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 cook dinner till softened.
Flip the warmth as much as medium-high, add within the floor pork and floor beef, and cook dinner till no extra pink stays, breaking up any massive items. Add within the garlic and cook 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 cook 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.
