Cabbage Rolls with Sausage and Brown Rice

Have you ever made cabbage rolls? This is something I always wanted to try but kept putting off because I thought it might be messy and laborious. Yes, it does take a little time, but I’m glad I finally got around to it, because it’s a lot of fun and the end result is so tasty and comforting on a chilly fall night.

Cabbage Rolls with Sausage and Brown Rice
1 head savoy cabbage, 12 outer leaves removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
½ cup cooked brown rice
1 large egg, beaten
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
⅓ cup grated Parmesan
1 cup chicken broth, heated
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Put the whole leaves in the pot and boil for 1 minute, then place under cold running water and dry.

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, thyme and pinch of salt and pepper. Saute until onion is tender, about 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the sausage, rice, egg and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. 

Without cutting through the cabbage leaves, pare down the rib on the outside surface so it’s the same thickness as the leaf. Spoon ¼ cup of the mixture into the base of each leaf. Starting from the bottom, roll the leaf one turn, fold the sides in and finish rolling. Place the stuffed leaves, seam side down, in a glass baking dish. Add heated broth to the dish, pour tomatoes over the stuffed leaves and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 40 minutes, remove from oven, and enjoy.

Recipe adapted from Cooking from the Farmers’ Market by Jodi Liano and Tasha DeSerio

A lot more to these bowls than just rice

One of my favorite casual eateries, Sacramento’s Tako Korean BBQ, makes a great rice bowl packed with tons of meat (spicy chicken’s my favorite), rice, slaw and all kinds of other goodies. This recipe is inspired by the meal I’ve devoured quite a few times!

Chicken and Brown Rice Bowls
Serves 2

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon agave syrup
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
¾ pound chicken breasts, cut into cubes
2 cups cooked brown rice, divided
2 cups shredded green cabbage, divided
2 cups bean sprouts, divided
½ cup diced red bell pepper, divided

Garnishes: Sriracha, peanut sauce, cilantro, sliced green onion, toasted peanuts

Combine first four ingredients in bowl and whisk to blend. Cook chicken in frying pan (lightly coated with a teaspoon or two of oil if you’re not going the non-stick route) over medium-high heat until meat is done, which should only take a few minutes. Add sauce to pan and stir until meat is evenly coated before removing from heat. Build each bowl with one cup each of rice, cabbage and sprouts. Add half the chicken and top with ¼ cup diced red bell pepper. Customize your bowl with desired garnishes and dig in.

I've got the hots for Creole seasoning

Red bell peppers were on sale, as was sausage, and I craved a tomato-y sauce. Here’s what I came up with — a quick dinner packed with smoke and sass thanks to the Creole seasoning I love because it tastes good in just about everything.

Creole Sausage and Brown Rice
14-ounce smoked turkey sausage, diced
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups diced celery
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles in juice
1 14.5-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
Cooked brown rice, about 1 ½ cups per serving

Warm olive oil over medium-high heat in large frying pan. Add garlic and onions and cook, stirring frequently, for a couple minutes. Add celery and cook an additional couple minutes before adding bell peppers. Cook vegetables for another minute. Reduce heat to medium and stir in diced tomatoes, Creole seasoning and sausage. Let simmer for a few minutes, until sausage heated through. Spoon over rice and serve.