Basmati Rice-stuffed Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 stalk celery, chopped ( ½ cup)
• 1 small red or green bell pepper, diced (about ½ cup)
• 3 cups thinly sliced mushrooms (8 oz)
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
• 1½ cups uncooked basmati rice
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 large green cabbage, cored
• 2 lbs fresh sauerkraut
• 3½ cups prepared tomato sauce

Procedures

1. In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-low heat.
2. Add onion, celery and bell pepper; season with salt.
3. Cover and cook 5 minutes.
4. Stir in mushrooms and garlic.
5. Cover and cook 5 minutes.
6. Stir in broth and rice; season with freshly ground pepper.
7. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
8. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, 15 minutes.
9. Remove from heat and fluff rice with fork.
10. Stir in parsley; set aside.
11. In large pot, bring 1 inch water to a boil.
12. Place cabbage in water, cored side down.
13. Cover and cook 5 minutes.
14. Remove cabbage from pot.
15. As soon as possible–using fork if necessary to grab leaves–peel off first 4 leaves.
16. Return cabbage to pot, cover and cook 5 minutes; peel off 4 more leaves.
17. You will need 8 leaves.
18. Cover leaves with plastic wrap (reserve remaining cabbage for soup)
19. When leaves are cool enough to handle, carve off as much tough ridge as you can from center of leaves, cutting flush with leaf.
20. Preheat oven to 375°F.
21. Drain sauerkraut in colander.
22. Rinse briefly then squeeze out most of liquid.
23. Place sauerkraut in even layer in medium to large shallow casserole (13 x 9-inch).
24. Top with 2 cups tomato sauce.
25. Place about ¾ cup of rice in center of each leaf.
26. Fold up sides and place stuffed leaves, seam side down, in casserole.
27. Spoon remaining 1½ cups tomato sauce over cabbage.
28. Cover with foil and bake until bubbly and heated through, about 45 minutes.
29. Check after 30 minutes and if it seems too liquidy, remove foil during last 10 to 15 minutes of baking.
30. Serve hot.