Lazy man's Cabbage Rolls

This has all the same ingredients as real cabbage rolls but takes less than half the time to prepare.

Ingredients

• non-stick spray coating (i.e. Pam)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¾ cup basmati rice
• 1 ½ cups beef or chicken stock
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp celery salt
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• 1 jar low fat pasta sauce (680-700 mL)
• 6 cups shredded cabbage
• ½ cup water

Directions

1) Spray a small pot or pan with non-stick spray coating. (Add a small amount of broth if necessary). Cook onion and garlic for about 3 minutes or until softened.
2) Add rice and stir to coat.
3) Pour in the stock and half each of the salt and pepper; bring to a boil.
4) Cover and reduce heat to low; cook for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
5) Scrape rice into a large bowl; fluff with a fork. Set aside.
6) In a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef, celery salt, oregano and the remaining salt and pepper until browned and cooked through.
7) Add to rice mixture; beat and stir in the egg and parsley until combined.
8) Spread ½ cup of the pasta sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
9) Sprinkle one third of the cabbage (2 cups) over this.
10) Now spread with half the rice mixture.
11) Repeat the last 3 steps. (pasta sauce, cabbage, rice mixture)
12) Finish with remaining cabbage (2 cups), packing down gently.
13) Mix remaining pasta sauce with water and spread evenly over top.
14) Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350-F for about 1 to 1 ½ hours or until cabbage is tender.

Exchanges

Makes 6 servings.

Count each serving as 3 protein (group 6) and 1 carbohydrate (group 5).
Image courtesy of K. Lalonde