We were in the Super Value grocery store in Lakewood WI and were looking at the prepared foods. One was stuffed cabbage rolls with potatoes. It got me to thinking about stuffed cabbage rolls, but I did not want to go to all the trouble to make them. So I researched online for something simpler and less time-consuming. Here is what I came up with which is a synthesis of several online recipes and some of my own input. Mom-in-law Elfrieda and Laura really enjoyed. It tasted to us just like cabbage rolls should, it is nutritious, inexpensive and really yummy. Enjoy!
| Author: Jim Kirkley
Much easier than stuffed cabbage rolls and just as good. Serve with sour cream on the side. Serves: 4 |
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Casserole |
INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound, ground beef – 80/20
1/2 pound, ground breakfast sausage – or ground pork
1 cup, cooked rice
1/2 medium, onion – diced fine
2 cloves, garlic – diced fine
1/2 teaspoon, red pepper flakes
2 12 ounce cans, diced tomatoes
1 12 ounce can, tomato sauce
1 tablespoon, sugar
2 tablespoons, parsley – chopped
1/2 head, cabbage – cored and chopped
1 egg
salt and pepper – to taste
sour cream – optional
METHOD
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a skillet, over medium heat combine ground beef, sausage (or pork), onions, garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute until mixture is browned. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let cool a bit. Add cooked rice and egg. Combine, remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, bring to a simmer. Add sugar. Add parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook for at least 15 minutes. Taste for sweetness, should be fairly sweet, if not add more sugar.
- Layer bottom of 3 quart casserole with a bit of the tomato sauce and 1/3 cabbage; add 1/3 meat mixture, press down, top with 1/3 tomato sauce. Repeat until all the ingredients are used up finishing with tomato sauce. You should have three layers overall.
- Cover with foil or lid and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour; uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
For low-carb diets leave out the rice. For a more dramatic presentation: grease casserole pan. After cooking and resting invert on serving platter, pray, and remove pan. Hopefully you will have a multi-layered masterpiece.
