Stuffed Cabbage Rolls And Bell Pepper Food

HEALTHY STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the rice in a bowl and add water to soak overnight. If you don't have time, just rinse it several times until the water is clear and let it soak for at least an hour until you gather and prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Slice out the core by cutting a deep cone-shaped incision so that the leaves could be easily detached. Submerge the entire cabbage head into a large pot with boiling water (for about 3-4 minutes). See video below for visual help.
• Then, peel the leaves off, one at a time, while the cabbage is still submerged. Use tongs for convenience.Since I don't have pickled cabbage (that's what is preferred) I'm adding some vinegar to the boiling water to give it a little kick.
• Prepare the bell peppers if you're using any: cut the core from the inside and strip away the seeds. Set aside.
• In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onions, garlic, carrots until lightly soft, add the spices and herbs, the beef. Add the soaked rice at the end and cook for 1-2 minutes. Leave the meat slightly uncooked.
• Now you can add half of the crushed tomatoes to the mixture at this moment or add it later on top, after rolling the cabbage. Set aside to cool.
• To stuff the cabbage leaves, lay down a single large leaf and place about a 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the filling in the lower third of the leave, fold the sides and roll (this way you'll get huge rolls).
• If you prefer smaller rolls then cut the leaf in smaller parts, and use less filing (see video).In a large deep dish (I'm using a 3-quart round glass dish) place the stuffed cabbage rolls on the bottom, and continue by adding layers.
• Pour the remaining half of the jar of crushed tomatoes on top. Alternatively use water and lemon juice or vegetable broth. Some try to add a lot of liquid so they are covered, but I found that this is not necessary as the steam fill circulate inside. Just add enough liquid to help the rice puff.
• Cover with the remaining cabbage leaves to seal moisture and cover with a lid.
• Bake for 2 hours at 370F or 190C. Or until the wild rice has puffed and is cracked open. (It has a longer cooking time than the regular rice).
• Remove from the oven and allow to sit covered for 30 minutes before serving. It will continue to cook and build some flavor for the next day.

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Bring a large, wide saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cabbage leaves and cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until softened; drain.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, 1 cup cooked rice, onion, egg, salt and pepper, along with 2 tablespoons of tomato soup. Mix thoroughly.
• Divide the beef mixture evenly among the cabbage leaves. Roll and secure them with toothpicks or string.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, place the cabbage rolls and pour the remaining tomato soup over the top. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring and basting with the liquid often.

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS WITH BEEF AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil the bottom and sides of two rectangular glass baking dishes.
• Melt butter in a 4- to 6-quart stockpot over medium heat. Add ground beef, green and red cabbage, onion, celery, and garlic. Stir in diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, oregano, basil, and pepper. Cook until beef starts to brown and cabbage softens a bit, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir, and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the beef cooks, prepare bell peppers: remove stems and cut peppers in half from top to bottom. Remove seeds and white membrane. Rub outsides of the peppers with olive oil and arrange, skin-sides down like edible bowls, in the prepared baking dishes.
• Strain beef mixture to remove excess liquid; scoop into peppers to fill and mound any extra on top or reserve for another use. Cover with foil.
• Cook in the preheated oven until peppers have softened, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove foil, top with mozzarella and provolone, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

AUNT PEARL'S STUFFED PEPPERS/ CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Cut green peppers in half from stem to bottom, and clean out insides, set aside.
• Mix beef, cooked rice, onion, egg, 1 can of tomato soup, 1/2 can stewed tomatoes, garlic salt, dill and pepper. Stuff mixture into pepper halves and place in baking dish; with leftover mixture, form into meatballs and place around stuffed peppers.
• Pour remaining soup and stewed tomatoes over the top of the meatballs and stuffed peppers, and add 1 cup of water. Cover and bake in the oven 350 degrees for 1 1/2- 2 hours, testing to see if green peppers are soft.
• When making stuffed cabbage, place beef mixture at core side of cabbage leaf and roll like a burrito.

VALERIE'S STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the cauliflower rice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower rice has started to soften, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and let cool to room temperature.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Use a paring knife to remove the core from the cabbage. Place the cabbage in the boiling water. Use a rubber spatula to slide under the outer leaf of cabbage and carefully separate it from the head. Use tongs to remove the cabbage leaf to the lined baking sheet. Continue removing leaves in this manner until you have 12. Turn the heat off and reserve the remainder of the cabbage for another use. Set aside the cabbage leaves to cool slightly.
• Add the ground turkey, cauliflower rice, tomatoes, basil, Italian seasoning, egg, onions and 2 tablespoons parsley to a large bowl. Grate 2 cloves of garlic directly into the bowl and sprinkle the mixture with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Use clean hands to mix the ingredients together until they are well combined. Set aside the mixture.
• Add the tomato purée, onion powder, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water to a 4-cup measuring cup. Grate the remaining 2 cloves of garlic directly into the measuring cup. Use a fork to whisk the mixture until it is well combined. Pour half of the mixture into the base of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Set aside the baking dish and reserved sauce.
• Place one blanched cabbage leaf on a clean work surface. Use a paring knife to cut a V-shaped notch at the base of the cabbage leaf to remove the thick rib. Spoon 1/3 cup meat mixture in the top third of the cabbage leaf. Roll the top of the cabbage leaf over the meat mixture, then fold the sides in, and continue rolling in a continuous motion to create a roll. Place the roll, seam-side down, in the prepared baking dish. Continue the process with the remaining 11 cabbage leaves.
• Pour the remaining sauce over the cabbage rolls. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and transfer to the oven to bake until the meat is cooked through, 55 minutes to 1 hour.
• Garnish with the remaining tablespoon chopped fresh parsley. Serve with the extra sauce spooned over the cabbage rolls.

FISH AND COUSCOUS STUFFED MEDITERRANEAN CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Homemade Greek Seasoning -- You can make a batch of this up and put in a small spice jar. Once you try this, you will always keep some on hand.: 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic. Options, you can add some lemon pepper, or marjoram, but that is my favorite combination that I use.
• Cabbage -- In a large pot, bring salted water up to a boil and add the cabbage. Blanch, or cook the cabbage just until the leaves are tender or no longer stiff and easy to work work. It should take about 3-4 minutes. Now don't get rid of that water, just turn it off for now. Once the cabbage is cool enough to handle remove the outer leaves, the ones that are soft and no longer stiff. As you get in to the smaller leaves they will be stiffer, so heat up the water to a boil and put the cabbage back in to finish blanching the remaining cabbage, just another 2-3 minutes. Once cool, take off the leaves.
• Set all the leaves off to the side to cool. And don't worry if they are all different sizes, that is just the way stuffed cabbage is. Each stuffed leaf will be a bit different.
• NOTE: Don't throw that water out yet. We use it one more time.
• Fish -- Now you can use a variety of methods, but since you already have hot boiling water from the cabbage, why get rid of it. I simply put a steamer basket (or you can use a colander or even a strainer; I have even used a small grate) over the top, cut my fish fillets into 3" pieces, easier to work with, and add to the steamer basket. Put a lid or foil over the top and just cooked until slightly tender, but not too long. Usually 4-5 minutes is all you need. Remove and let cool.
• Couscous -- Now you can use your favorite brand. Simply follow the directions on the package. My method is to bring a bowl of water up to a boil in the microwave. Remove, add the couscous, cover with plastic wrap and you are done. You want approximately 1 1/2 cups cooked couscous, a little more or less is fine. Just set to the side.
• Vegetable Filling -- In a medium saute pan, heat to medium high and add the olive oil. Add the peppers, onion, celery, and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion gets opaque. Then add in the scallions, parsley, Greek seasoning and olives and just stir to combine all the flavors. Remove to the side.
• Fish filling -- Take you fish and use your fork to flake the fish. I just roughly flake it, it will fall apart as you mix it with the other ingredients. To the couscous, just remove the plastic wrap or fork to "fluff up." Then add the fish, sauteed vegetables, lemon juice and zest, and the egg to the couscous. Mix well. Your filling is done.
• Sauce -- The sauce can simmer as you roll your cabbage leaves. In a medium to large pot bring to medium heat and add the olive oil and then the onions and garlic. Cook for just 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and then add in the tomatoes and Greek seasoning. Stir well and then add in the artichoke hearts. Just reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
• Rolls -- Now the fun part. Lay out the cabbage leaves and put a good spoon of the couscous mixture to the center of the leaf. I fold one end over (the smaller end), then tuck in the 2 sides, and finish rolling. Just like you would make a sandwich wrap. Secure with a toothpick and you are done.
• If you have any filling left, don't throw it out. Save it and reinvent it. Add some feta cheese and fresh tomatoes and serve as a cold salad over a bed of lettuce or stuff in a tomato for a quick healthy lunch or dinner.
• Casserole -- I like to bake mine in a large casserole dish, I add all the cabbage leaves and then top with the simmered tomato and artichoke sauce. In a 350 degree oven, cover and bake 30-40 minutes until the cabbage is very tender and all the filling reheats.
• Serve -- Make sure to serve 2-3 leaves per person and top with extra tomato sauce and the black olives as a garnish. Some crusty bread and you have a great dinner. I love to start with a bowl of creamy potato soup, I made earlier, so just reheat. It makes a nice Sunday Comfort Food Meal for a cold chilly day.