Best Middle Eastern Cabbage Rolls Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the cabbage leaves and put a heavy ladle on top to keep them submerged. Boil for 4 mins, then drain, reserving the water.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Reserve 2 tbsp of the onion, then fry the rest for 10 mins until just golden. Stir in the pine nuts and cook until starting to colour. Add the spices and rice, then pour in 450ml of the reserved water. Stir in the bouillon powder, cover and cook for 15 mins until the rice is almost tender and the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the lentils, zest and mint.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put a spoonful of the rice into the centre of a cabbage leaf, roll up and put in a shallow casserole dish. Repeat with the remaining rice and leaves. Cover and bake for 30 mins until the rice is fully tender.
• Meanwhile, combine the tahini, lemon juice, garlic and 3 tbsp water, and mix the salad ingredients with the reserved onion. If you're following our Healthy Diet Plan, serve half the rolls with half of the sauce and half of the salad. Cover and chill the rest to eat another day. Will keep in the fridge for two to three days. Reheat in the microwave until hot.

MIDDLE EASTERN CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a roasting pan.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cabbage leaves and cook uncovered until softened, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain. Cut off the rough end of the central stems.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, almonds, and golden raisins; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Season with parsley, cumin, and ground cinnamon. Mix in cooked rice and season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon a small amount of rice mixture into the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold sides over the filling and roll cabbage leaf up until the rice is encased. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling. Place the stuffed cabbage rolls in the roasting pan, seam-side down. Pour warm chicken broth over cabbage rolls.
• Bake in the preheated oven until flavors are well combined, about 25 minutes.
• Stir yogurt, mint, allspice, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Refrigerate while cabbage rolls are cooking. Serve with the hot cabbage rolls.

MIDDLE EASTERN STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Combine all filling ingredients in large bowl, kneading with your hands. Carefully remove 18-20 of the largest outer leaves of the cabbage, and blanch for a few seconds in very hot or boiling water. Rinse & drain & slice off the thick spine of the leaf with a paring knife, without cutting through the leaf. Shred some of the remaining leaves, and line the bottom of a 6 quart Dutch oven with them. Lay the cabbage leaves out flat on a tea towel, and place about an egg-sized portion of filling at the wide end. Roll up and secure by tying around the middle with kitchen twine. Place them in the Dutch oven with the seam side of cabbage down. You should be able to place them in two layers. Combine sauce ingredients and pour over the cabbage rolls. Bring to the boiling point on top of stove, then cover and bake in 350 degree oven for 90 minutes. During the baking time, remove lid to spoon sauce over the top layer a few times. Remove kitchen twine and serve over a bed of egg noodles, rice, or with mashed potatoes.

MIDDLE-EASTERN MEATLESS CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Gently saute spring onions in 1/4 cup olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Place in large bowl add remaining stuffing ingredients, adding salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove leaves from cabbage carefully so as not to tear them. Parboil leaves in boiling water until limp enough to handle, cooking leaves in 2 to 3 batches. Drain in colander, rinse with cold water.
• Cut out larger center rib of each leaf, any large leaves in half. Line base of a deep pan with the ribs and any leftover torn leaves.
• Place a generous tablespoon of stuffing on base of each leaf, roll once and tuck in sides to contain filling. Roll to end of leaf. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Crush and mince garlic add salt, mint and lemon juice; mix with olive oil. Pack rolls flap side down in lined pan, sprinkling garlic-lemon mixture between layers of rolls. Invert a plate on top of rolls to keep them intact during cooking. Add enough cold water to just cover rolls, put lid on firmly.
• Bring to boil, reduce to low and simmer 45 minutes. Remove from heat and leave aside 30 minutes. Serve lukewarm or cold.