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Oriental-Style Cabbage Rolls

17/11/2023

Oriental-style cabbage rolls are a dish that blends the tradition of cabbage leaf cooking with the flavors of Eastern cuisine. Here is a recipe with an Italian twist, as I like it.

Ingredients

  • 12 large cabbage leaves
  • 300 g of ground meat (beef or pork)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 80 g of long-grain rice
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • An Italian touch: grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
  • Sesame oil
  • Soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
  • 250 ml of chicken or vegetable broth
  • Extra virgin olive oil

For the sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
  • Sesame seeds and fresh green onion for garnishing

Preparation

  1. Start by blanching the cabbage leaves in salted water for about 3-4 minutes. Then drain them and let them cool.

  2. In the meantime, mix the ground meat, onion, garlic, egg, uncooked rice, salt, pepper, sweet paprika and, for a distinct Italian touch, add grated Parmesan cheese.

  3. Take a cabbage leaf and place a portion of the filling in the center. Fold it by bringing the sides in and roll it up to form a roll. Repeat the operation for all the cabbage leaves.

  4. Arrange the rolls in a large pot with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sauté for a few minutes, then add the grated ginger and moisten with soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil.

  5. Pour the broth until it covers the rolls and let them cook covered over medium heat for about 40 minutes.

  6. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by mixing the soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar and finally the cornstarch dissolved in cold water.

  7. Pour the sauce over the rolls and let everything thicken, stirring gently.

  8. Serve the Oriental-style cabbage rolls hot, garnished with sesame seeds and green onion slices.

Even though this is not a traditionally Italian recipe, the addition of Parmesan is a small gesture that brings the dish closer to the flavors we are accustomed to.

Trivia

Cabbage, or head cabbage, is used in various culinary cultures around the world, often adapting the fillings to local traditions. Cabbage rolls are a very versatile dish: in Italy, for example, it is common to find them filled with meat and rice, simmered with tomato and served with polenta.