Lazy Cabbage Rolls with Chicken

Lazy Cabbage Rolls with Chicken

High ProteinBaking • Meal Prep FriendlyDinnerComfort Food • Kid-FriendlyEastern European
Medium
55min
350kcal
4people

MACROS

per serving
※gProtein
◆gFat
▣gCarbs
◎gSugar
◇gFiber
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Tender and juicy lazy cabbage rolls made with ground chicken, baked in a delicious sour cream and tomato sauce.

If you are looking for the perfect recipe for a cozy family dinner, then lazy cabbage rolls with chicken are exactly what you need. This dish combines all the charm of traditional cabbage rolls but is prepared much faster and easier, saving you from the long task of dealing with each cabbage leaf individually. By replacing heavy meat with a leaner and more accessible ground chicken, we make lazy cabbage rolls with chicken incredibly tender, light, and perfectly suited even for a children's or diet menu. The secret to the perfect texture lies in the correct preparation of the vegetables: if you finely shred the cabbage and pour boiling water over it beforehand, it will become very soft and blend seamlessly with the meat base without crunching in the finished dish. Additionally, the rice absorbs all the aromas of the vegetables and meat, making every bite as rich and satisfying as possible. Special attention in this recipe should be paid to the sauce. Our lazy cabbage rolls with chicken are baked in a luxurious homemade gravy based on sour cream and tomato paste. This sauce not only prevents the lean ground chicken from drying out in the oven but also turns into a magnificent thick gravy that pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes or just a fresh slice of crusty bread. Be sure to try making this dish in advance—the next day, after soaking in the sauce in the refrigerator, it becomes even richer and tastier. Cook with pleasure, and may this simple yet homey recipe become a frequent guest on your table!

Ingredients

  • 400 g Ground chicken
  • 300 g Cabbage (about 1/4 medium head)
  • 100 g Rice (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 pc Carrot (medium)
  • 1 pc Eggs
  • 100 g Sour cream (about 4 tbsp)
  • 50 g Tomato paste (about 2 tbsp)
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 30 ml Sunflower oil (2 tbsp)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1
    Rinse the rice and boil it in boiling water until half-cooked (about 10 minutes). Drain in a sieve and let it cool slightly.
  2. 2
    Finely shred the cabbage, place it in a bowl, and pour boiling water over it for 10 minutes to make it soft. Then drain in a colander and thoroughly squeeze out excess liquid.
  3. 3
    Peel and grate the carrot on a coarse grater. Pass the garlic through a press.
  4. 4
    In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, cooled rice, soft cabbage, carrot, and garlic. Beat in the egg, add salt and black pepper. Mix the mass thoroughly with your hands until smooth.
  5. 5
    Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Lightly grease a baking dish with sunflower oil. With wet hands, form large oval patties (cabbage rolls) from the mince and place them in the dish in a single layer.
  6. 6
    For the sauce, mix sour cream, tomato paste, a pinch of salt, and about 400 ml of warm water (about 1.5 cups) in a deep container. Use a whisk to bring to a smooth consistency.
  7. 7
    Pour the resulting sauce over the cabbage rolls so that it covers them almost completely. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until fully cooked and a light golden crust forms on top.

Chef's Tips

  • •Ground chicken is leaner than red meat, so the sauce plays a key role—don't be stingy with the gravy when serving.
  • •To make the sauce even richer, the carrots can be lightly sautéed in a pan before adding them to the mince.
  • •If the mince seems too wet, you can add a tablespoon of breadcrumbs, but squeezed-out cabbage usually provides the correct texture.

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