Middle Eastern Cabbage Rolls Food

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the cabbage leaves and put a heavy ladle on top to keep them submerged. Boil for 4 mins, then drain, reserving the water.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Reserve 2 tbsp of the onion, then fry the rest for 10 mins until just golden. Stir in the pine nuts and cook until starting to colour. Add the spices and rice, then pour in 450ml of the reserved water. Stir in the bouillon powder, cover and cook for 15 mins until the rice is almost tender and the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the lentils, zest and mint.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put a spoonful of the rice into the centre of a cabbage leaf, roll up and put in a shallow casserole dish. Repeat with the remaining rice and leaves. Cover and bake for 30 mins until the rice is fully tender.
• Meanwhile, combine the tahini, lemon juice, garlic and 3 tbsp water, and mix the salad ingredients with the reserved onion. If you're following our Healthy Diet Plan, serve half the rolls with half of the sauce and half of the salad. Cover and chill the rest to eat another day. Will keep in the fridge for two to three days. Reheat in the microwave until hot.

LEBANESE STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water (or chicken broth) to a boil.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully remove tough inner core of the cabbage. When water or broth has come to a boil, add the whole head of cabbage (cored) to the pot. In about 2-3 minutes, the cabbage leaves will slowly start to separate from the head. Carefully place them on a plate as they fall off the core.
• In a medium bowl, combine sirloin, rice, salt, pepper, lemon juice, cinnamon and half of the garlic.
• Working one leaf at a time, place 1-2 tablespoons of meat mixture in the middle and roll until meat is covered with cabbage.
• Place stuffed cabbage rolls in the same pot you used to cook the leaves and line them up close together, alternating direction with each layer. Continue until leaves are gone.
• If you have any extra meat mixture, roll them into tiny meatballs and add them on top of the stuffed rolls. Cover stuffed cabbage with water - about ½ in above top layer. Throw in dried mint and remaining 2 crushed garlic cloves. Squeeze any leftover lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Take a small plate and turn it upside down and place on top of rolls.Push down to ensure all rolls are submersed in liquid. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until meat is fully cooked through. Serve with plain yogurt.

EUROPEAN CABBAGE ROLLS (HOLISHKES)

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients. Place 1 heaping tablespoons in center of each leaf, folding in end and sides and rolling up to form a snug roll. Continue till all filling and leaves are used. Shred smaller remaining leaves.
• For the sweet and sour sauce combine ingredients in small bowl. If you can't find mushroom tomato sauce, then use tomato sauce.
• In large pot or roasting pan, layer shredded cabbage (any leaves not suitable for filling), place stuffed cabbage rolls and sauce on top of shredded cabbage. Continue till all are in pot. Simmer for 2 hours on stove top tightly covered, or cook in preheated 275 oven for 2 hours. Yield: 30 Cabbage Rolls.
• VARIATIONS:.
• THE MEATLESS WAY: Substitute 3 cups cooked mixed beans, peas and lentils as you like. ( A good combination is cooked garbanzos (chickpeas) and brown lentils). Use 1 cup raw rice. Crush them as you combine with other ingredients. Continue as above. Season to taste.
• HUNGARIAN LAYERED CABBAGE: Use SAVOY cabbage for this dish as it softens when cooked. In a baking pan layer cabbage leaves, meat filling, and sauce, ending with sauce on top. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour. Keep warm till serving, cut in squares to serve.
• THE MEATLESS WAY: Try this same method as for Hungarian Layered Cabbage using grated raw potatoes instead of meat filling. Season with finely minced browned onions, salt and pepper. Top casserole with sauce. Bake 1 hour.
• MIDDLE EAST CABBAGE ROLLS: Use ground lamb, COOKED rice, and season with allspice and cinnamon. Layer rolls with lemon juice flavored chicken broth instead of Sweet and Sour Sauce. Cook as in main recipe.
• To Life!