Cajun Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

low calorie food & super healthy dinner recipe

Ingredients:

1 t. salt

1/4 t. ground cayenne pepper

1/4 t. black pepper

1 large head of green cabbage, 6-12 leaves plus 2 cups shredded cabbage

7 t. butter (2 T. plus 1 t.)

2 cups onions, chopped

3/4 lean ground beef (90/10 or 95/5)

1 cup chicken or beef stock

3 eight ounce cans tomato sauce

1 cup green bell peppers, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

2 T parsley, minced

1/2 t. garlic, minced

Directions:

Combine seasoning mix (first 3 ingredients) and set aside:

Prepare cabbage leaves. Throw out torn or damaged leaves and carefully remove 6-12 leaves. If you have extra stuffing you'll have some extra leaves. Trim thick stem end from each leaf and steam, until soft enough to fold, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In heavy 4-6 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat. Add onions and saute, stirring frequently for 10 minutes. You should have many dark brown onion pieces. Take pan off heat, remove onions to bowl and set aside.

Return pan to heat (without wiping out), add meat and cook until done, stirring and breaking up pieces. Take pan off heat, reserve meat to bowl with onions.

Leave 2 T. fat in the pan add shredded cabbage and place on high heat. Stir and scrap pan bottom often for about five minutes. Add stock, 1 can tomato sauce, bell peppers, green onions, celery, parsley, garlic, seasoning mix and reserved onions and meat. Mix well and cook until mixture is almost dry, 10-15 minutes. Take off heat.

Fill each cabbage leaf with 1/2 cup filling (or less depending on size of leaf) and fold like an envelope. Place in greased 8 X 8 inch baking pan with seam side up. You can use toothpicks to secure, but I find they hold together fine when placed snugly in the pan. Pour the remaining 2 cans tomato sauce over all. Seal tightly with foil. Foil will scorch leaves if it touches them. Bake for an hour, or until leaves are tender and gravy is rich and thick, at 425F. Serve immediately.

CALORIES: One fourth of this recipe is 416 calories.