Description
Russian-inspired cabbage beef bake melds hearty ground beef with tender cabbage layers in a comforting casserole. Savory spices and melted cheese create a satisfying meal that welcomes you to savor traditional Eastern European flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small head cabbage, chopped (about 6 cups)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Cooking Environment: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), creating an optimal thermal landscape for the casserole’s transformation.
- Meat Foundation: Brown ground beef in a spacious skillet over medium heat, meticulously draining excess fat to preserve a lean, robust base.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce finely chopped onions and garlic to the meat, sautéing until these flavor catalysts become translucent and release their aromatic essence, melding seamlessly with the protein.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold chopped cabbage into the skillet, allowing it to soften and absorb the seasoned meat’s rich profile, stirring occasionally to ensure uniform cooking and prevent adherence to the pan.
- Flavor Composition: Integrate diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, creating a complex and harmonious flavor symphony that elevates the dish’s depth and character.
- Preliminary Melding: Simmer the concoction for 5 minutes, enabling ingredients to intertwine and develop a cohesive, intensely satisfying taste profile.
- Baking Preparation: Transfer the beef and cabbage mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring an even distribution that promises consistent flavor in every serving.
- Cheese Culmination: Crown the casserole with a generous layer of shredded cheese, which will melt into a golden, bubbling masterpiece during baking.
- Final Transformation: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese achieves a tempting golden-brown crust and the entire dish radiates with culinary promise.
- Serving Refinement: Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes post-baking, permitting flavors to settle and ensuring a perfect serving temperature.
Notes
- Meat Selection: Choose lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce excess fat and maintain a healthier dish without compromising flavor.
- Cabbage Cutting Technique: Slice cabbage into uniform, thin strips to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Cheese Melting Trick: Use a blend of cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella for improved melting and a more complex flavor profile.
- Low-Carb Adaptation: Replace traditional ingredients with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to create a keto-friendly version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg