Cabbage rolls - q about the rice

[mbcdefg]

I might make cabbage rolls tomorrow. I've only made them once, in the crockpot, and they were really good. I didn't pre-cook the rice that time.

Tomorrow I'm going to cook them on the stovetop. I'm Googling for recipes and I'm finding a mix of "pre-cook rice" vs. "use uncooked rice in the filling." Most recipes agree on letting the stuffed rolls simmer in the tomato sauce (or a can of tomato soup) for about 45 minutes.

What do you do? Cook the rice and add to the stuffing, or just add the raw rice to your stuffing?

[jennistarr1]

when in doubt, I would cook it

[dearprudence]

I always cook my rice before stuffing.

This is true for cabbage rolls and stuffed peppers/zucchini, etc.

[mbcdefg]

OK thanks! I'll cook the rice, and maybe make some extra to eat on the side.

[ohgillian]

How did these turn out? I LOVE stuffed cabbage and haven't had it in a long time. You are making me hungry.

[mbcdefg]

Feb 1, 2013 9:24:39 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

How did these turn out? I LOVE stuffed cabbage and haven't had it in a long time. You are making me hungry.

They were really good! I had the leftovers for dinner last night, and I typically don't like leftovers.

I had a package of beef/pork/veal ground meat - I added a packet of onion soup mix, pepper, garlic powder, and an egg. (I made half of that into meatballs to freeze for later because otherwise it would've been way too much.) I made a cup of white rice and then added a portion of that to the cabbage stuffing. I added a can of tomato sauce and a can of diced tomatoes, along with a little splash of white wine, to my Le Creuset Dutch oven on the stovetop and turned on the burner.

I steamed the cabbage leaves in the microwave for a few seconds, then rolled them up with the meat filling and put them seam-side down in the Dutch oven, and I poured a little reserved tomato sauce on top. I let the sauce start boiling, then I turned it to low, covered it, and let it summer for about 45 minutes. We ate it with the rest of the white rice. So easy!