There is no need to make it into rolls. Unstuffed cabbage casserole has the same fantastic flavor as the original, without hard work. This dish comes together in no time, and you can slow cook it, bake it or cook it on the stovetop. You can make unstuffed cabbage soup, too, if you add a bit more liquid. This is a winning recipe!
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?
Using a large skillet or medium-sized dutch oven, brown the meat with the onions and garlic until no pink is left, about 5-6 minutes. Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, rice, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the chopped cabbage and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 ½ hour, with the lid on, stirring occasionally. You can also cook it in a 350 F oven for 1 hour or slow cook it for 3 hours in the crockpot.
What To Serve with Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?
This dish already has rice, but my family likes it served on top of an extra portion of rice. I think all this dish needs is a slice of delicious crusty and toasted bread, but you can serve a side salad of mixed greens if you want to add something extra to the meal.
Cooking Tips
You can substitute ground beef for ground pork, chicken, or turkey. If you are using the crockpot, brown the meat along with the onion and garlic, transfer to the crockpot, add the rest of the ingredients, give it a mix, and slow cook for 3-4 hours. After the cooking time is over, taste it and adjust the seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed. If you want to make unstuffed cabbage soup, add 1 ½ cups of chicken or beef broth.
