Cabbage Patch Casserole
Wow. Has it been cold enough for y'all? Good grief.
I know it's been pretty cold all across the nation with this recent Polar Vortex, but as I write this in January of 2014, we've had some record breaking temps in the teens even down here in the Deep South along the Gulf Coast.
I'm sure if some of you are coming across this recipe at some point in the future, you're probably facing cold weather yourself right now.
Here we are a week into the new year and this is only just my first post. It's been a wacky start for sure - stomach bugs followed by all out flu exchanged between me and The Cajun means that one or both of us have been sick since the beginning of the year and with this fresh wave of weather, neither of us are yet back to normal.
This recipe is a very slight adaptation of one that was shared a few years back by Linda, a reader on our Southern recipe sharing page on Facebook. It's essentially a casserole form of deconstructed cabbage rolls, often called Cabbage Roll Casserole, Lazy Man's Cabbage Rolls or simply Lazy Cabbage Rolls, and it's just simply delicious and perfect for anytime, but especially on these cold days.
Here's how to make it. As always, the full recipe text with measurements, instructions and a handy printable is a little further down the page. Just scroll or swipe past the pictures!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish; set aside. Add the sausage or beef to a large skillet and cook until lightly browned. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until tender, about 4 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook another minute. Stir in the beef broth.
Add tomatoes with their juices, Worcestershire, herbs, Cavender's (or your favorite all-purpose seasongin) and rice. Stir together; set aside.
Scatter the cabbage evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole. Pour the meat mixture all over the top, seal tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1-1/2 hours. If using cheese, uncover, sprinkle with cheese and return to the oven until cheese has melted.
You will note that the recipe calls for only 3 tablespoons of uncooked rice. That is the amount used in the photos, and no, it's not a misprint!
For more of my favorite cabbage recipes, visit my page on Pinterest!
Cabbage Patch Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage, Italian sausage or ground beef
- 2-1/2 cups chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup beef stock/broth or water
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed dried herbs, such as herbes de provence
- 1/2 teaspoon Cavender's or other all-purpose seasoning
- 3 tablespoons uncooked long grain rice
- 6 cups coarsely chopped, raw cabbage
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish; set aside.
- Add the sausage or beef to a large skillet and cook until lightly browned. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes with their juices, Worcestershire, herbes, Cavender's and rice. Stir together; set aside.
- Scatter the cabbage evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole. Pour the meat mixture all over the top, seal tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 1-1/2 hours.
- If using cheese, uncover, sprinkle with cheese and return to the oven until cheese has melted.
Notes:
This recipe is not heavy with rice, so yes, 3 tablespoons of uncooked rice, is correct. If you want more rice, you'll need to adjust liquids accordingly. Substitute a mixture of thyme, sage, marjoram and rosemary for the herbes de provence, or use another blend like Italian. Add oregano for an Italian flavor and for Mexican, substitute small amounts of coriander, cayenne, pepper, cilantro, chili and cumin.
Tip: Sometimes cabbage can create a lot of water. To avoid that, chop and parcook the cabbage, then drain. Proceed with recipe, reducing the cooking time to about 30-40 minutes or until casserole is warmed through.
Cabbage Patch Soup: Prepare as above except substitute 6 cups of chicken stock or broth, or a mix of broth and water adding 1/2 tablespoon of chicken base. Omit the rice and substitute 1 (15 ounce) can of beans, rinsed and drained. Add everything to a soup pot. Let simmer about 1 hour, or until cabbage is tender.