Best Jacques Stuffed Cabbage Recipes

STUFFED WHOLE CABBAGE

Steps:

• Combine sauce ingredients; set aside. Line a medium bowl with cheesecloth, allowing 6 inches to overhang edges of bowl. Place cabbage in bowl with core facing up. Remove core and center of cabbage, leaving a 1-in. shell. Discard core; chop center cabbage leaves. , Heat large skillet over medium heat; add oil. Cook onion and 1 cup chopped cabbage in oil until tender, 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. In a small bowl, combine beef, onion mixture, 1 cup sauce, rice, egg, salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into cabbage shell. Gather cheesecloth around cabbage and twist tightly to securely enclose cabbage leaves and filling. , Place 1 cup water, remaining chopped cabbage and remaining sauce in a Dutch oven; mix well. Carefully add stuffed cabbage, with twisted cheesecloth facing down. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until whole cabbage is tender and a thermometer inserted in the middle of the cabbage reads 165°, 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Remove cabbage and discard cheesecloth. Place cabbage on a serving platter; keep warm. , Combine the cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup water; add to Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cut cabbage into wedges; serve with sauce and Parmesan cheese. If desired, sprinkle with fresh thyme and oregano leaves.

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Discard any damaged outer leaves of cabbage and cut away enough of the core to make the leaves easy to remove from the head. Carefully remove and reserve the 12 largest leaves and set the heart aside.
• Cut out the thick, lower part of the central rib in each of the 12 leaves without disturbing the shape of the leaves. Chop these rib sections with the cabbage heart. You should have about 5 cups. Set aside.
• Bring the water to a boil in a pot. Add the 12 cabbage leaves, and bring the water back to a boil. Place an inverted plate on top of the leaves to keep them submerged in the water, and boil them gently for 10 minutes. Drain the leaves in a colander, and immediately place them in a pot of cold water to cool them. When the leaves are cool, lift them out of the water as carefully as possible, gently shake off excess water, and spread them out on a flat work surface.
• In a skillet, heat the oil until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and saute it for 1 minute. Stir in the garlic, and cook the mixture for a few seconds; then add the reserved chopped cabbage and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and boil gently for 10 minutes. Most of the moisture should have evaporated; if it has not, remove the lid, and cook until the mixture is just slightly moist.
• Transfer the cooked cabbage mixture to a bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, add the sausage, salt, pepper, allspice and parsley, and mix well. Finally, add the bread crumbs and mix them in lightly.
• Divide the sausage mixture among 9 of the cabbage leaves, spooning it onto the center bottom of each leaf. (Although the outer leaves of the cabbage are large enough to contain a serving of the filling, the interior leaves are smaller, and you may need to use 1 1/2 or 2 of them together to contain a portion of the filling.) Fold in the sides of the leaves, and roll them tightly to enclose the filling. You should have 9 individual cabbage rolls, 1 1/2 per person.
• In a large skillet, arrange the cabbage rolls in one layer, with seam side down, and pour the chicken stock around them. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat, and cook gently for 45 minutes. You should have about 1 cup of juice remaining around the rolls. Divide the cabbage rolls among six plates, spoon some of the juice over them, and serve immediately.