ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Stuffed cabbage rolls - Unstuffed recipe

Updated on November 9, 2010

Time is a problem for most

For some of us cooking is a wonderful experience that we enjoy, no matter if it takes hours to prepare.  For a bigger share of the population, time does not permit hours of preparing foods, so the end result may be going to the restaurant for take out.  Some restaurants have good food, but is just not quite the flavor that home cooking provides.

Stuffed Cabbage rolls may be something you remember from your childhood that your Grandma or Mother would spend all day on, the outcome?  Delicious.  Bring those childhood memories back to your family.  Getting the kids to participate in this job is easy, most kids like getting their hands dirty.  Let them be the ones to squish the meat between their fingers.  Remember to wash those little hands first please!  This is one dish that I have no problem getting helpers!

I have taken an old recipe and turned it into a newer time saving, delicious meal.  This is not one that Rachel Ray will be having on her show anytime soon, because the cooking time is more than 30 minutes.  But it is easy and delicious.  And I have taken the fear out of preparing this dish, since you won’t have to learn how to make those cute little bundles of yumminess.  The work has been cut in half and you still get all the flavor!  Save making stuffed cabbage rolls for a day when you have more time.

Plan your shopping list

Ingredients:
1 small head of cabbage or 1 large cut in half  cored and chopped.
3 lbs Good ground beef (81% - 19% works best, ground sirloin is tasty but you will need a little fat for the best flavor)
1 ¼ C. whole grain white rice
1 Cup diced onion
1 tsp garlic minced
1 small can tomato paste (6 oz)
½ cup hot water with 2 tsp. good beef bouillon dissolved (allow to cool before adding to meat)
2 eggs
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt

1 28 oz can tomato sauce
1 28 oz can whole or crushed tomatoes
1 lb bag sauerkraut (or 1 quart of fresh canned if you can get your hands on it)


The right tools make the job easier

Utensils:
Large mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
Crock pot, Dutch Oven, 9 x 13 baking dish or whatever type of pan you feel comfortable using.

Instructions

Chop cabbage into large pieces, 2 inch, set aside.  In large mixing bowl mix beef onions, garlic, rice, tomato paste, dried herbs, and eggs.  Add water mixture and mix well, I use my hands for this job, makes mixing easier.  Form into balls or logs, whatever shape you  desire. 

For the purpose of this explanation we will be using the crock pot.
Place a layer of cabbage, tomato sauce and some of the sauerkraut on bottom of  crock pot.  Place layer of meat balls on top of this, keeping small spaces between balls (this assists in flavor absorbing into meat and helps rice cook).  Layer again cabbage, tomato sauce and sauerkraut.  Repeat until all meat, cabbage and sauerkraut is used.  Top with can of tomatoes (if using whole, crush with hands before using).  You have effectively ‘un-stuffed’ your cabbage rolls!

Turn on low and cook for 8 - 10 hours.  If using High setting you will only need to cook 4 - 6 hours.  If cooking on stove top, about 2 -3 hours on low setting, you don’t want to scorch.  If baking in the oven about 1 - 1 ½   hours at 350 degrees.  You may want to put a layer of aluminum foil under to prevent any messes should it bubble over.


Extra tip


This same meat recipe can be used to make stuffed green peppers as well! Just omit the cabbage, sauerkraut and layering. Just cut off the tops of the peppers, trim the bottom of this, remove seeds, rinse well with water and stuff the meat mixture into the peppers. Put into baking or cooking utensil, bake or cook about the same time.


Enjoy!!

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)