Description
Polish-inspired unstuffed cabbage rolls bring hearty comfort to plant-based dinner tables. Savory lentils, rice, and tender cabbage strips combine in a simple one-pot meal that satisfies with rich, warming flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked lentils
- 1 cup cooked rice (brown or white)
- 1 small head green cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, shredded
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) tomato sauce
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Flavor Foundation: Sauté onions, garlic, and carrots in olive oil until translucent, developing a rich aromatic base for the dish.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold chopped cabbage into the pot, allowing it to soften and absorb the initial layer of seasoned flavors while releasing its inherent sweetness.
- Liquid Layering: Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, vegetable broth, and tomato paste, creating a robust and velvety sauce that will envelop the ingredients.
- Spice Awakening: Sprinkle smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, transforming the mixture into a complex flavor profile with nuanced warmth.
- Simmering Harmony: Reduce heat, cover the pot, and allow ingredients to meld together, coaxing the cabbage into a tender, succulent state while intensifying the overall taste.
- Protein and Grain Fusion: Gently incorporate pre-cooked lentils and rice, ensuring they absorb the surrounding flavors and become fully integrated into the dish’s texture and taste.
- Final Flourish: Garnish with fresh parsley, adding a vibrant green element that brings brightness and visual appeal to the comforting one-pot meal.
Notes
- Sauté with Care: Ensure vegetables are softened without burning by stirring frequently and maintaining medium heat, which develops deeper flavor complexity.
- Liquid Balance: Add vegetable broth gradually to control consistency, preventing the dish from becoming too watery or dry; aim for a slightly saucy texture that coats ingredients.
- Spice Adjustment: Customize heat levels by modifying red pepper flakes quantity; start conservatively and taste, allowing personal preference to guide seasoning intensity.
- Protein Flexibility: Swap lentils with quinoa or chickpeas for varied protein sources, making the recipe adaptable for different dietary needs and maintaining nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg