Name: Cabbage, Minced Meat, Rice, and Chickpeas Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 500 g minced lamb or beef; 1 cup round-grain rice, soaked beforehand and drained before use; 5 or 6 whole cabbage leaves, washed (no need to blanch); ½ tsp allspice + ½ tsp cinnamon; ½ tsp black or white pepper + ½ tsp turmeric; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for oiling the ovenproof dish) and salt; Tomato sauce ingredients: 3 or 4 chopped tomatoes, 3 minced garlic cloves, juice of ½ lemon, a handful of finely chopped fresh mint, 1 cup cooked chickpeas, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 cup water, salt and pepper to taste

"This hearty layered casserole swaps traditional stuffed cabbage rolls for an easy assembly of tender cabbage leaves, savory minced meat and rice stuffing, and a vibrant tomato-chickpea sauce. Bursting with warm spices like allspice, cinnamon, and turmeric, it's a comforting dish perfect for family dinners. Bake until caramelized for irresistible flavor."

🥗 Ingredients (8 items)

500 g minced lamb or beef
1 cup round-grain rice, soaked beforehand and drained before use
5 or 6 whole cabbage leaves, washed (no need to blanch)
½ tsp allspice + ½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp black or white pepper + ½ tsp turmeric
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for oiling the ovenproof dish) and salt
Tomato sauce ingredients: 3 or 4 chopped tomatoes, 3 minced garlic cloves, juice of ½ lemon, a handful of finely chopped fresh mint, 1 cup cooked chickpeas, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 cup water, salt and pepper to taste

Method 6 Steps

1

Oil an ovenproof dish roughly the size of the cabbage leaves. If the cabbage leaves are too small, use 2 leaves side by side instead of 1 large one.
2

Drain the soaked rice and mix it with the minced meat and all other ingredients except those for the tomato sauce.
3

Place the first cabbage leaf on the bottom of the dish, then spread a thin layer of the meat and rice stuffing on top. Add another cabbage leaf and spread another layer of stuffing. Repeat until all cabbage and stuffing are used up, ending with a cabbage leaf. Set aside (to prepare the sauce) and preheat the oven to 180°C.
4

Combine the tomatoes, water, salt and pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, mint, chickpeas, and garlic, then pour the sauce over the cabbage layers. Cover with foil and bake for about 1 hour.
5

When cooked (check with the tip of a sharp knife), remove the foil and continue to bake for another 10 minutes to give a nice caramelized color to the dish.
6

Divide into portions with a knife and serve the same way you would serve lasagna. A nice green salad will be perfect as a side dish!

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🥗 Ingredients (8 items)

Method 6 Steps

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