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Stuffed Cabbage, Microwave (M, TNT)
Source: adapted from "Microwave Gourmet," by Barbara Kafka
Serves: 4

Filling:
1/3 cup long grain rice
1 head cabbage, cored and broken leaves removed
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic peeled and smashed
2 slices ginger peeled
1 lb. ground meat (I use turkey)
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Sauce:
1 14-1/2 oz. can tomatoes, drained and crushed
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar, I don't use this and find it sweet enough
hot sauce or paprika to taste, optional
2 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup red wine, sweet, if desired

Filling:
Microwave rice at full power for 5 minutes in one cup of water in a covered 4-cup measuring cup microwave whole cabbage at full power for 5-6 minutes (I remove the soft leaves and redo this as I need more leaves for stuffing.) Chop onion, garlic, and ginger in a food processor and combine with meat, nutmeg, rice, and salt if desired.

Assembly:
Position cabbage leaf like a cup and place 2 tbsp. filling near the base. Fold in sides over filling and roll up.

Place the rolls close together in as large a rectangular glass pan as you microwave will hold. Stir sauce ingredients together just to mix and pour over prepared cabbage rolls.

Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap and cook at full power for 15 minutes. If you want to, you can cook the sauce uncovered for and additional 5 minutes after removing the cabbage rolls. Pour sauce over rolls and serve. This keeps well for a few days in the refrigerator or freezes for later use. It is ever so much faster than traditional methods and is delicious.

Poster's Notes:
Here is my version of Barbara Kafka's Stuffed Cabbage Leaves from her Microwave Gourmet cookbook, which I heartily recommend. I tend to simplify her recipes slightly. Even if you don't want to go the whole microwave route, The cabbage softening in the microwave beats burning your fingers with a pot of boiling water!

Posted by Wendy Baker

Nutritional Info Per Serving: 149 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (2% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 37g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 145mg Sodium