Best Cabbage Stuffed With Barley And Pomegranate Seeds Recipes

JACQUES' STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Remove the 12 outermost leaves from the cabbage; blanch for a few minutes in boiling, salted water to soften.
• Rinse blanched leaves in cold water, then drain, and let dry; cut out a v-shaped "notch" to remove some of the tough rib of each leaf, set aside.
• Core remainder of cabbage and chop inner leaves into 1 inch pieces so that you have about 2 cups; wash and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat; add onion and celery and saute, while tossing and stirring, until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cabbage, cook another minute or so while tossing and stirring.
• Season with salt, pepper, caraway, and coriander, if using.
• Pour in stock, cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates and vegetables are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes (if too much liquid remains, simply remove cover and continue cooking).
• Remove vegetables to a mixing bowl and allow to cool; add cooked rice and ground beef, mix well (with hands).
• Be sure mixture is well seasoned as this is the stuffing (to test, fry a small amount in butter to taste seasonings).
• To make the sauce, set a casserole, or other oven proof pot, on the stove top and heat over medium high heat; add oil, onion, celery, and carrots.
• Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper, and bay leaves; cover and simmer on low while you stuff the cabbage.
• Okay, now the fun part, stuffing the cabbage (this is a Jacques Pepin exclusive method that Julia Child found utterly charming and much easier than the traditional method): Lay a large square of aluminum foil flat on your work surface.
• Place the four largest cabbage leaves on the foil; they should overlap and form a circle with the "notch" on the outside of the circle.
• Spread 1/3 of the stuffing on top, leaving about a 2 or 3 inch margin all around.
• Repeat using the next largest leaves and another 1/3 of the stuffing; then layer with the smallest leaves and remainder of the stuffing.
• Now you are going to use the foil to reshape the cabbage into it's original ball shape, no, seriously.
• Lift the corners and outside edges of the foil, and bring toward the center, so that the bottom layers of cabbage come up and sort of cover the smaller leaf layers.
• Keep pressing and forming into a ball, you will have a small opening at the top of the foil.
• Pour wine and stock into the casserole with the sauce; invert the cabbage ball and place into the sauce with the opening DOWN.
• Bring to a boil, over high heat, cover and place in center of preheated oven.
• Cook 2 hours.
• Once done, remove cabbage to a serving platter; this can be accomplished, heh heh heh, with one of those wire pasta thingys, or a heavy spatula (the opening should still be down).
• Pierce the foil and gently remove, from around and under, without disturbing the shape of the cabbage.
• Cut into wedges to serve; spoon sauce over or serve on side.

BEEF AND BARLEY CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, bring water and salt to a boil. Add barley and cook until tender, approximately 45 minutes, depending on type of barley used (refer to package). Drain and set aside. In another stockpot, blanch cabbage leaves in boiling water for 1 minute.
• In a bowl, combine barley, meat, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, carrots, parsley, egg and seasonings. Mix thoroughly and divide into 12 even portions. Place each portion on stem end of a cabbage leaf and roll up tightly. Fasten with a toothpick. Place rolls in a greased baking dish (13 by 9 by 2 inches). Pour remaining milk over the rolls and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cooked through, turn rolls over once to help them cook evenly.
• Heat butter and lemon juice. Pour over rolls and sprinkle with paprika then serve.

MICROWAVE RED CABBAGE WITH BACON AND CARAWAY SEEDS

Steps:

• Line a large heatsafe plate with 4 sheets of paper towels. Lay the bacon slices side-by- side on top of the paper towels, then top with 2 additional sheets of paper towels. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Check the bacon to see if it is cooked through and crispy. If not, cook in 1-minute intervals until the bacon is crispy. Reserve.
• Put the butter, shallot and caraway seeds into a large heatsafe glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute to melt the butter. Add the cabbage, apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the melted butter and stir to combine. Cover with a vented lid or plastic wrap with 6 small holes poked in it. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Carefully uncover and stir the cabbage. Cover again and cook, stirring every 5 minutes, until the largest parts of the cabbage are wilted and tender, 10 to 15 additional minutes.
• Use a pair of tongs to transfer the cabbage to a serving platter; discard any extra liquid in the bowl. Roughly chop the bacon and sprinkle over the cabbage. Serve immediately.

BARLEY AND WILD RICE PILAF WITH POMEGRANATE SEEDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened. Add wild rice and barley; stir for a few seconds. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the wild rice and barley are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast pine nuts in a small, dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until light golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl to cool.
• Add pomegranate seeds, lemon zest, parsley and the toasted pine nuts to the pilaf; fluff with a fork. Serve hot.

BARLEY-STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Cook barley according to package directions.
• Pull off and discard any wilted or coarse outer cabbage leaves.
• Cut out core to a depth of about 3 inches.
• Parboil cabbage in a large kettle of salted boiling water for about 15 mins, or until leaves are soft enough to be pliable.
• Carefully cut out the tough part of the rib from each leaf.
• Saute onion in shortening until soft. Add mushrooms and lemon juice; saute 3 minutes
• Season with paprika, salt and pepper. Add cooked barley and parsley and mix well.
• Spoon 1 or more large spoonfuls of stuffing onto each leaf, the exact amount depending on the leaf's size.
• Roll up and fold in edges to securely enclose stuffing. Secure with toothpicks or tie with string.
• Place in a kettle. Cover with bouillon and cook slowly, covered, about 1 1/2 hours, or until leaves are tender.
• Remove stuffed leaves and keep warm. Stir flour into drippings and cook, stirring, until smooth.
• Add sour cream and dill and heat through. Pour sauce over stuffed leaves.