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Cabbage rolls with rice

17/11/2023

Cabbage rolls with rice are a savory and nutritious dish that can be adapted as a vegetarian dish or with added meat for those who want an extra touch. Here’s a version of the rice roll that could satisfy your palate.

Ingredients

  • 8 large cabbage leaves
  • 200 g Arborio or Carnaroli rice
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 1 stalk of celery, cut into small cubes
  • 400 ml of vegetable or meat broth
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • (Optional) 100 g of ground pork or beef, for those who want to add meat

Preparation

  1. Start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the cabbage leaves for about 2-3 minutes, then drain and dry them carefully. Be careful to keep the leaves intact.

  2. Prepare the rice by sautéing the chopped onion with the extra virgin olive oil in a large pan until it becomes translucent. Add the carrot and celery, and cook until the vegetables start to soften.

  3. Add the rice and let it toast for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly. If you have chosen to include ground meat, add it at this point and cook until it is well browned.

  4. Gradually pour the hot broth over the rice, a ladle at a time, waiting for the liquid to be almost completely absorbed before adding the next. Continue cooking until the rice is al dente and the broth has been absorbed. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan.

  5. Take the cabbage leaves and place some of the rice in the center of each leaf, then wrap them to close the filling inside, folding the sides to seal them if necessary.

  6. Arrange the rolls in a baking dish, drizzle with a little oil, and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 15-20 minutes, until the top starts to brown.

Curiosity

Cabbage rolls are a very versatile dish, and in Italian cuisine, many regional varieties can be found. For example, in Sicily, cabbage rolls or “cavoli a beccafico” are prepared, where cabbage leaves wrap a filling made of breadcrumbs, raisins, pine nuts, and anchovies, all flavored with orange zest and bay leaves.

Cabbage rolls with rice