Almost Cabbage Rolls Casserole

Almost Cabbage Rolls Casserole has all the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls with only a fraction of the work.

This meatless version uses yellow split peas and brown rice layered with chopped cabbage creating a filling dish with good taste and nutrition.

The peas are softened up a bit before assembling the dish, then the whole thing is popped into the oven and ignored for a couple of hours.

Boil up some potatoes and dinner is served. (These Buttered Noodles from Simply Recipes would also be a wonderful side!)

This dish tastes great the next day, so make it ahead and reheat in the oven for 30 minutes or until heated through.

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Almost Cabbage Rolls Casserole

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 40 mins

 

The taste of cabbage rolls without all the work. Serve with boiled potatoes, pickled beets and some sour cream.

Servings: 6 - 8 servings

Author: Mary Gillespie

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon / 15 ml vegetable oil
• 1 large onion finely chopped (about 1-1/4 cups / 310 ml)
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup / 250 ml yellow split peas
• 1/2 cup / 125 ml uncooked brown rice
• 1 cup / 250 ml water
• 1/2 teaspoon / 2.5 ml salt
• 1/4 teaspoon / 1.25 ml pepper
• 2 teaspoons / 10 ml paprika
• 1 teaspoon / 5 ml dried dill
• 1 can 28 oz / 796 ml tomatoes (whizzed in blender or food processor)
• 2 tablespoons / 30 ml brown sugar
• 1/4 cup / 60 ml cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon / 2.5 ml salt
• 1/2 head of cabbage coarsely chopped (approx 6 cups / 1,5 liters)

Instructions

1. Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil. Add onions and stir until onions are softened. Do not let the onions brown. If they start to brown, turn down the heat.
2. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes, stirring to keep garlic from browning.
3. Add split peas and rice and stir to coat with onion. Stir in salt and pepper.
4. Add water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cover. Let the peas simmer for 15 minutes. They will soften slightly but will not be completely cooked.
5. In a small bowl, stir together pureed tomatoes, paprika, dill, brown sugar, vinegar and additional 1/2 teaspoon salt.
6. Layer 1/3 of the cabbage in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Place half of the split pea mixture over the cabbage.
7. Cover peas with another 1/3 of the cabbage. Repeat layers, topping with remaining cabbage.
8. Pour tomato sauce over the dish. Do not stir.
9. Cover the dish and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
10. While the dish is resting, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
11. Bake for 2 hours without stirring.
12. Remove from oven and serve.

Recipe Notes

Variation:
Replace some of the cabbage with sauerkraut for additional flavor. Drain and rinse the sauerkraut before using to remove excess salt.

(This post and recipe was updated on January 15, 2016.)