Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Make Ahead Meal Idea Recipes

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS (POLISH-STYLE GOłąBKI)

Steps:

• Fill a large stockpot two-thirds full of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Using a paring knife, remove the cabbage's core. Using large, sturdy tongs, carefully lower the cabbage into the pot, core side down and blanch.
• As the leaves loosen from the cabbage head, carefully remove them to a plate. Repeat until you have 12-14 large leaves.
• When you have removed all the cabbage leaves you want for rolling, return the individual leaves to the boiling water for one minute, until they are tender and flexible. Set aside.
• Pull or rough-chop any remaining cabbage leaves from head. You will use these to line the slow cooker.
• I like to use a paring knife to thin the stem end just a bit before I assemble the cabbage rolls. It makes rolling them a little easier, and the rolls turn out more uniform. You only need to do this step for leaves that you plan to use to make the rolls. You do not need to thin the stems of the leaves you use to line the slow cooker.
• Whisk together tomato sauce, lemon juice, flour, ground ginger, and Tabasco sauce.
• Add half the suggested sugar and taste it. The sauce will taste "raw," but you will be able to get a general idea about how sweet it is. If it isn't sweet enough, add more sugar a little at a time. (Note that sweetness will intensify as the sauce cooks.)The amount of sugar needed depends both on the amount of sugar in the tomato sauce you use and your personal preferences. Set prepared sauce aside.
• If you enjoy a lot of sauce with your cabbage rolls, you may want to double the sauce amounts.
• Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain in a wire sieve or colander. In a medium bowl, mix ground meat, rice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, ground ginger, oregano, chopped onion, and egg until thoroughly combine.
• Basically, cabbage rolls are rolled exactly like a burrito.
• A - Place ¼-⅓ cup filling on the stem end of a single cabbage leaf. B - Roll the stem end up over the filling. C - Fold both sides into the middle. D - Complete rolling with the final flap end resting down.
• Line the bottom of the slow cooker with leftover cabbage leaves. Place the prepared cabbage rolls on top of the loose cabbage leaves. Stack them in two layers. Do not crowd. Rolls will expand as the rice cooks inside them. Use any remaining cabbage leaves or chopped cabbage to fill in any spaces around rolls.
• Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the rolls in the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F | 71°C.

SLOW COOKER CABBAGE ROLLS MAKE AHEAD MEAL IDEA

Steps:

• Cut approx 1/4 inch off the bottom of the cabbage head and place the whole head in boiling water. Then boil about 2 minutes. Peel off the leaves as they soften. This goes pretty quick.
• Place remaining head back in the boiling water and repeat until you have at least 8 large cabbage leaves.
• (You can freeze cabbage then thaw and skip the boiling part. We just need the leaves soft enough to roll)
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, uncooked rice, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, garlic powder, pepper, salt, onion.
• Stir in egg and combine well.
• Whisk together tomato sauce, paprika and Worcestershire sauce in another bowl.
• Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of leaf and roll up like a burrito.
• Pour enough sauce to cover the bottom of your slow cooker.
• Place cabbage rolls seam side down in slow cooker, in two layers so they are touching but not over crowded either.
• Mix all sauce ingredients together and pour over rolls.
• Cook on high for four hours or low for 8 hours.

MAKE-AHEAD CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• In batches, cook cabbage leaves in boiling water until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain; cool slightly. Trim the thick vein from the bottom of each cabbage leaf, making a V-shaped cut., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef, salt and pepper over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Stir in rice and eggs. , In another skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in water, tomato sauce, lemon juice, sugar, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 15-20 minutes., Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Pull together cut edges of leaf to overlap; fold over filling. Fold in sides and roll up. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Pour sauce over rolls. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. , Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, covered, until heated through, 50-60 minutes., Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked cabbage rolls. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

WE'LL BE MAKING SLOW COOKER CABBAGE ROLLS ALL WINTER LONG

Steps:

• Boil a pot of water and toss in a little sea salt. Prepare a large bowl or pot of cold water.
• Turn your cabbage upside down, carefully slice around the core and pull it out. There may be some parts of the core still inside, do your best to cut them out so you have a hole in the bottom of the cabbage.
• Once the water is boiling, place the cabbage down into the water with the core-end down. After about a minute, use your tongs and begin turning the cabbage in the water. Allow to boil for 5 minutes and then plunge the whole head of cabbage into the bowl of cold water or simply run it under cold water from your tap.
• Once slightly cooled, gently remove 12 cabbage leaves, being careful not to break.
• Heat a pot on medium heat and drizzle oil. Add the onions cool until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
• Pour in the crushed tomatoes, sea salt and pepper. Cover and allow to simmer while you prepare the filling.
• Place all filling ingredients in a bowl and mix so everything is well combined.
• To assemble, place about ¼ to ⅓ cup of filling into each cabbage roll. Fold in the sides and end of the leaf and then continue to roll until it's closed. Repeat until all the leaves and filling have been used.
• Place a little bit of sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker and then place the cabbage rolls in, seam side down.
• Pour the rest of the sauce on top. Turn on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

SLOW-COOKED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Cook cabbage in boiling water just until leaves fall off head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls; drain well. (Refrigerate remaining cabbage for another use.) Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each reserved leaf, making a V-shaped cut; set aside., In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce, rice, green pepper, cracker crumbs, egg and soup mix. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. , Place about 1/3 cup meat mixture on each cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides, beginning from the cut end. Roll up completely to enclose filling. Secure with toothpicks if desired., Place cabbage rolls in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Pour V8 juice over rolls. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until filling reaches 160°. Just before serving, sprinkle with salt and cheese if desired.