Il Cucinologo
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Savoy Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Rice and Escarole

17/11/2023

The savoy cabbage rolls with rice and escarole are a delicious and hearty dish, perfect for a winter dinner. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 8 large savoy cabbage leaves
  • 200 g rice
  • 1 head of escarole
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Vegetable broth as needed
  • Grated Parmesan (optional)
  • 1 small onion
  • (Optional) Breadcrumbs

Preparation

  1. To start, clean the savoy cabbage leaves by rinsing them under running water and removing the toughest part of the central stem.
  2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the savoy cabbage leaves for about 3 minutes, then drain them and lay them on a clean cloth to dry and cool.
  3. Meanwhile, wash the escarole, roughly chop it, and sauté a clove of garlic in a pan with extra virgin olive oil, then add the escarole, season with salt and pepper. Cook until the escarole has softened.
  4. In a saucepan, cook the rice in plenty of salted water according to the package instructions.
  5. Drain the rice and combine it with the escarole, mix well to let the flavors meld, and if you like, add some grated Parmesan.
  6. Take the savoy cabbage leaves and place a portion of the rice and escarole filling on each leaf, then roll them up and secure with a toothpick.
  7. Thinly slice the onion and let it soften in a pan with a drizzle of oil. Place the savoy cabbage rolls in the pan, pour in vegetable broth until it covers half the rolls, cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
  8. (Optional) Near the end of cooking, you can sprinkle the rolls with breadcrumbs and let them brown in the oven for a few minutes.

Fun Facts

Savoy cabbage rolls are a typical recipe from Eastern Europe, and each country has its own variation. In Italy, savoy cabbage is often used to make soups and risottos as well. As a versatile dish, you can experiment by adding typical Italian elements to the filling such as pancetta, crumbled sausage, or using aromatic herbs like basil or rosemary to enrich the flavor.