Lebanese Cabbage Rolls
These Lebanese cabbage rolls are stuffed with lamb and infused with the flavors of turmeric, ground ginger and allspice.
From EatingWell: September/October 2012
Yield: 4 servings, 2 cabbage rolls & 2 tablespoons sauce each
Active Time: 1 1/4 hours
Total Time: 2 hours
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bulgur
- 1 large head Savoy cabbage
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cups finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped leeks, white and light green parts only
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 12 ounces ground lamb
- 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
- 1 egg yolk
Preparation
- Prepare bulgur according to package directions; transfer to a medium bowl.
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a large skillet. Trim bottom of cabbage and separate leaves. Add the 8 largest leaves to the boiling water, cover, reduce heat to medium-high and simmer until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a clean work surface to cool. Reserve the remaining leaves.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and leeks. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, turmeric, ginger, allspice and cinnamon; cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the bulgur and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. Add the lamb, parsley, mint and lightly beaten egg. Gently knead the mixture with your hands until well blended.
- Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with some of the uncooked cabbage leaves. Place about 1/2 cup of filling over the root end of each cooked leaf. Fold in the sides and roll up to form a bundle. Lay the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the pan. Combine wine, broth, lemon zest and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Pour over the cabbage rolls. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake until the thicker ribs of the cabbage leaves are very tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into a roll registers at least 165°F, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Transfer the rolls and cabbage leaves to a serving platter; tent with foil to keep warm. Carefully pour the juice from the pan into a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil until reduced by about half, 6 to 10 minutes. Whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and egg yolk in a small bowl. Whisk the reduced liquid into the lemon-yolk mixture, then pour the sauce back into the pan. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, 2 to 4 minutes. (Take care not to overheat the sauce or the egg will curdle.) Serve the rolls with the sauce.
- Make Ahead Tip: Prepare cabbage leaves (Step 3); make stuffing (Steps 1 & 4), omit egg; refrigerate separately up to 1 day. Add egg and continue with Steps 5-7.
Nutrition Per serving:
521 calories; 30 g fat (11 g sat, 15 g mono); 155 mg cholesterol; 38 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 11 g fiber; 642 mg sodium; 953 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (129% daily value), Vitamin A (58% dv), Folate (54% dv), Magnesium (31% dv), Zinc (29% dv), Potassium (28% dv)
2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 1/2 medium-fat meat, 1 starch, 5 vegetable, 3 1/2 fat