Tips, Tricks, and Variations: Mastering Lazy Stuffed Cabbage
In the bustling world we live in, a delicious home-cooked meal often seems like an elusive luxury, reserved for special occasions or leisurely weekends. But what if we told you that you could indulge in a culinary masterpiece without spending hours in the kitchen, without the hassle of meticulously wrapping stuffing in cabbage leaves? Say hello to “Lazy Stuffed Cabbage” – a dish that harmoniously melds the heartiness of meat, the rich flavors of vegetables, and the simplicity that even novice cooks can embrace.
You can also check out our other Main Dishes Recipes.
Lazy Stuffed Cabbage
This recipe is a culinary secret weapon, designed for those who crave gourmet goodness without the fuss. In just over an hour, you’ll be savoring a mouthwatering meal that’s perfect for both everyday dining and entertaining discerning guests.
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs cabbage chopped
- 1 lb goundet meat pork and beef mix or your preference
- 2 pcs onions quarter rings
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ½ cup rice
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil olive oil recommended
- 2 ½ tsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp salt divided
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large frying pan or pot with a thick bottom. Add the chopped cabbage, ½ teaspoon salt, and sugar. Stir, cover with a lid, and stew for 15 minutes on medium heat, stirring every 3 minutes.
- While the cabbage is stewing, chop the onions into quarter rings.
- After stewing, transfer the cabbage to a plate and free the pan for further cooking.
- In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and add the sliced onions. Fry for 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- When the onions are slightly golden, add minced meat to the skillet. Break it into small lumps while stirring. Increase the heat to maximum, add 1 teaspoon salt, and fry for 5 minutes, breaking the lumps and stirring constantly. Add ground black pepper and other desired spices.
- Reduce the heat to medium, return the cabbage to the skillet, stir, cover, and stew for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Rinse the rice thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear.
- Create a space in the center of the pan, add the rinsed rice, and pour in water (1 cup for a thicker consistency, 1 ½ cups for a more gravy-like consistency).
- Place the cabbage and minced meat on top of the rice, mix slightly, cover the pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a minimum and stew for 5 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, stir, cover, and stew for another 10 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, check if the rice is ready. If so, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it sit for 10 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Serve the lazy stuffed cabbage with sour cream and garnish with greens.
Notes
- The ratio of cabbage, minced meat, and rice can be arbitrarily changed according to your taste. I just picked up the ratio so that each of these main ingredients is not lost in the overall bouquet of flavors, but also not too dominant. In other words, everything is already balanced in this recipe. All that remains is to trust and cook.
- You can use both beef and homemade mince (a mixture of beef and pork mince).
- Rice again you can use any rice according to your taste and mood. I take usually round grain.
- Sugar is not a mandatory ingredient – it is used to enhance the flavor and create a positive overall picture of the dish.
- You can not put who does not want or reduce its amount. If desired, you can add carrots to the lazy stuffed cabbage. It does not affect the flavor in any way
