Stuffed cabbage is a familiar but not quite simple dish. Sometimes cooking cabbage envelopes with meat causes a lot of difficulties. It's a shame and annoyance when stuffed cabbage does not work. Why do they fall apart, dry, ugly in appearance?
Steamed cabbage?
The main thing in cabbage rolls is not only the filling, although a lot of attention is paid to it. It is much more important to properly prepare the cabbage, otherwise nothing will work out at all. No need to try to wrap the minced meat in raw sheets, nothing will come of it. Head of cabbage is required to boil. To do this, first the upper sheets are removed from it, then deep cuts are made around the stump with a knife. This is necessary so that the water gets inside, and the sheets are easily removed.
How to boil cabbage:
- Boil water in a large saucepan.
- Lower the head, boil for 2-3 minutes. If the cabbage is winter and tough, then you can cook longer.
- Take out the cabbage, remove the top sheets. The remaining heads of cabbage again immerse in water and boil for a few more minutes. Repeat.
- To straighten each removed leaf, cut a thick vein in the middle with a sharp knife.
You can put the head in a bag, make a few holes and scroll for 5-7 minutes in the microwave. Cabbage will soften, the sheets can be removed, if necessary, warm longer. The core with small leaves is not thrown away, it is cut and laid on the bottom of the pan with an even layer so that the stuffed cabbage does not burn.
By the way, sometimes for cabbage rolls they use sheets of Chinese cabbage. They can be used in raw form, but it is better to pour boiling water for a moment. Thick veins need to be cut immediately, you can make a wonderful vitamin salad out of them.
Isn't meat lean?
Classic cabbage rolls are prepared with meat filling. But not every mince is good. The dish is not very tasty from beef, as well as from dry chicken breast. Therefore, be sure to add lard or any other fat. Ideally, pork is mixed with other meat. Tasty and juicy minced meat comes with the addition of duck, lamb. In any case, there should be a lot of fat, as additional vegetables and rice will be introduced.
By the way, sometimes housewives for some reason add an egg to the minced meat. Allegedly for bonding the mass. In no case should this be done. The filling with the egg is hard, dry. Stuffing in cabbage rolls will not decay, rice will perfectly hold it together.
Rice cooked?
Dry and tasteless cabbage rolls are obtained using raw rice. Sometimes housewives just soak it in water, let it swell, then send it to the minced meat. But this is not enough. Groats will start to extract juice from meat and vegetables, which will greatly affect the taste.
How to cook rice:
- Rinse cereals, fall asleep in a large amount of water, per 100 g, approximately 700-800 ml.
- Bring to a boil, you can salt.
- Boil for 6-7 minutes, drain into a colander.
Due to the large amount of water, rice is cooked very quickly. If chopped or small cereal is used, then five minutes is enough. It doesn’t give a grain of salt. As soon as water drains from it, shift into minced meat. If there is no time for cooling, then you can wash the rice, like pasta. Since cabbage rolls will be cooked further, there is nothing wrong with raw water.
By the way, you can cook cabbage rolls not only with rice. Buckwheat also fits perfectly. Boiled barley is also suitable, which is incredibly useful for any organism.
Vegetables added?
In addition to rice, you must add vegetables to the minced meat. In addition to a pleasant taste, they give the filling a juiciness. It is advisable to fry the vegetables first in oil or fat, but not until fully cooked. Just lightly brown. If you use butter, it will turn out even tastier.
What vegetables to use:
- bow;
- carrot;
- roots
- bell pepper;
- tomato or pasta.
You can add a small eggplant or zucchini, it just does not spoil the filling. Often cooked vegetables, and then divided into two parts. Half is sent to the sauce, and everything else is mixed with meat. It is advisable to cool the vegetables before this, they should not be added in hot form.
Helpful advice! In addition to vegetables, it is important to add spices and herbs to the filling, you can use seasonings for meat or barbecue, dumplings or meatballs.
Have you prepared the sauce?
You can pour some water into the cabbage rolls and put out under the lid. It will taste better if you use tomato juice or diluted pasta. For saturation, instead of water, meat, mushroom or chicken broth is used. But it’s best to prepare a real sauce for pouring. He soaks the cabbage, in addition to the main dish, we get a wonderful gravy.
What sauce (gravy) can be made to cabbage rolls:
- Red with vegetables. Tomatoes or tomato paste are introduced into the fried vegetables, all this is diluted with broth or water, seasoned with spices. It is advisable to spill sauce with all layers of cabbage rolls to evenly distribute vegetables.
- Sour cream garlic sauce. Dilute sour cream with water, add garlic and spices, the concentration is arbitrary. Sometimes soy sauce is introduced, it also turns out very tasty.
- Sour cream with tomato. Sometimes sour cream and tomato sauce or juice from tomatoes are mixed. You can add sour cream to the finished red sauce. This is one of the most successful options with a bright but delicate taste.
Often stuffed cabbage is cooked in the oven. In this case, less sauce is required, but it is still needed. You can just pour sour cream or cream, sprinkle with cheese. Otherwise, the cabbage will dry out.
Cooked or stewed?
Last, but not least, is the cooking of cabbage rolls. Yes, for some reason they are usually cooked. In fact, cabbage envelopes are better to put out and do it on the smallest fire. The process may take longer, but the result will certainly please.
Why is it better to stew rather than cook:
- envelopes will not unfold, will not fall apart from active drilling;
- cabbage does not turn sour, cabbage rolls do not turn into porridge;
- the sauce will not curl, there is such a feature when adding sour cream;
- the liquid does not boil;
- cabbage rolls will not burn.
For cooking, it is advisable to take dishes with a thick bottom and place at least two layers of cabbage rolls in it. To extinguish you will need a tight lid. Stuffed cabbage is brought to a boil over high heat, then it must be reduced to a minimum. Preparing the dish at a low boil will be 45-60 minutes.
