Il Cucinologo
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Pumpkin Cabbage Rolls

17/11/2023

The pumpkin cabbage rolls are an excellent choice for a flavorful and colorful autumn dish, combining the delicacy of the vegetable with the sweet and slightly earthy taste of pumpkin. Here is an Italian version of the dish:

Ingredients

  • 8 savoy cabbage leaves (or white cabbage)
  • 500 g pumpkin, already cleaned and cut into cubes
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 200 g Carnaroli rice or other risotto rice
  • 50 g grated Parmesan
  • 500 ml vegetable broth
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Nutmeg (optional)
  • Butter (optional for creaming)

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the cabbage leaves. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, immerse the cabbage leaves and let them blanch for about 5 minutes until they become soft but still firm. Then drain them and let them dry on a clean cloth.

  2. For the filling, sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Once golden, add the pumpkin cubes, salt and pepper, and cook until the pumpkin becomes soft enough to be mashed with a fork. Add a pinch of nutmeg for a spicy touch, if desired.

  3. Prepare the risotto by adding the rice to the same pan with the pumpkin. Toast it for a few minutes and then start adding the vegetable broth, one ladle at a time, waiting for the liquid to be absorbed before adding more. Continue cooking until the rice is al dente and the pumpkin well incorporated, then cream with Parmesan and a bit of butter for greater creaminess.

  4. Place each cabbage leaf on a flat surface and put some of the pumpkin risotto in the center. Fold the sides of the cabbage inward and roll to form the rolls.

  5. Arrange the rolls in a lightly oiled baking dish, drizzle with a little oil on top and, if desired, a little water or broth to keep the dish moist during cooking.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes or until the top of the rolls starts to brown.

Curiosities

Cabbage rolls are a typical dish of many culinary traditions, widespread from Eastern Europe to Scandinavian countries. In Italian cuisine, they are also commonly found in versions with meat or cereal fillings, always very aromatic and comforting in the cold seasons.

Buon appetito!