Our food exploration takes us today to the vibrant island of Cuba, where the cuisine is a rich tapestry of influences from various cultures. Today’s culinary masterpiece, Rice & Beef Stuffed Cabbage Rolls or as they say in Cuba, “Rollitos de Col Rellenos de Arroz Y Carne“, is a delicacy that beautifully marries Cuban flavors with a globally loved concept.
At first glance, you might associate cabbage rolls with the hearty, comforting dishes of Eastern Europe. However, this Cuban rendition brings a tropical twist to this traditional fare, offering a delightful surprise for the palate. This Cuban variant introduces a flavorful blend of grated carrots and adobo spice, transforming a well-known classic into an exciting Caribbean dish. So put on your chef’s hat, and let’s turn up the heat on your stovetop to create this delicious Cuban treat.
A Cuban Symphony of Flavors: The Ingredients
The magic of these Rice & Beef Stuffed Cabbage Rolls lies in their straightforward, wholesome ingredients. A whole cabbage, ground beef, rice, finely chopped onions, garlic, and grated carrots form the backbone of this dish, seasoned to perfection with salt, black pepper, and the star – adobo. The adobo brings a depth of flavor, adding a distinct Cuban personality to the rolls.
The rolls are nestled snugly in a homemade tomato sauce, concocted with diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, bay leaves, and a hint of sugar. The result is a symphony of flavors that excite your taste buds – the tanginess of the tomatoes, the robustness of the beef broth, the sweetness of the sugar, and the subtle aroma of the bay leaves.
Rollitos de Col Rellenos de Arroz Y Carne: The Preparation
As you start to prepare the Rice & Beef Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, you’ll find joy in the process as much as the outcome. The recipe begins by gently softening the cabbage leaves, careful not to damage their delicate structure. This process is a dance of precision, requiring a keen eye and a gentle hand.
The filling, a hearty mix of ground beef, rice, onions, carrots, garlic, salt, black pepper, and adobo, is prepared separately. The filling is packed into the cabbage leaves, which are then arranged in a casserole dish. Here, the cabbage rolls undergo their transformation, as they are coated in the homemade tomato sauce, covered with leftover cabbage leaves, and baked to perfection.
Once the cabbage rolls have finished cooking, the top layer of cabbage leaves is gently removed to reveal the beautiful, mouth-watering rolls underneath. Serve them warm, drizzled generously with the cooking broth, and you’ve got a dish that is comfort food and gourmet fare, all rolled into one.
Rice & Beef Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
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Ingredients
For the Cabbage Rolls
- 1 cabbage
- 1 ⅕ lbs ground beef
- ½ cup rice
- 2 carrots grated
- 2 med onions chopped finely
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 1 tbsp adobo
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
For the Sauce
- 1 can tomatos diced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cups beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Remove the cabbage core without harming the leaves.
- Fill a cooking pot with about 2 cups of water. Place cabbage, cored side down, cover, and cook for 20 minutes to soften leaves.
- In a separate mixing bowl mix ground beef, onions, rice, carrots, salt, black pepper, garlic, and adobo, and mix well.
- Stuff your cabbage leaves with the filling mix
- Place one layer of cabbage leaves on the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Place cabbage rolls seam side down in the casserole dish. You can make more than one level of stuffed cabbage rolls.
- In a cooking pot place the beef stock, sugar, bay leaves, and tomato paste. Heat over medium-high, then pour the mix over the stuffed cabbage.
- Cover the dish with the remaining cabbage leaves.
- If you are using a casserole dish bake at 350 degrees for an hour.
- After cooking, remove the top layer of cabbage leaves and set them aside. Remove the cabbage rolls and serve warm covered with cooking broth.
Nutrition
Cabbage Rolls, A Cuban Treat to Remember
This incredible Cuban version of Rice & Beef Stuffed Cabbage Rolls is a meal to remember. It takes you on a journey right into the heart of Cuban cuisine, allowing you to experience a whole new world of flavors. This recipe is a testament to the idea that with a bit of creativity, you can transform familiar dishes into something exciting and unexpected.
Serving this dish at your next dinner party will not only impress your guests but also transport them to the bustling streets of Havana, Cuba, from the comfort of your dining room. So take this journey with us and let your kitchen be a gateway to the world.
We hope you relish making this recipe as much as we loved sharing it with you. Don’t forget to leave a rating and a review for this recipe, as your feedback means the world to us!
Remember to sign up for our newsletter for more exciting recipes and cooking tips. Until next time, as they say in Cuba, “Buen provecho!” or “Enjoy your meal!”. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website.
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