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Cabbage Leaves stuffed with Black Beans and Rice

Cabbage Leaves stuffed with Black Beans and Rice

I am lucky enough that in my life I get to travel a lot. One of my favourite parts about traveling is that I get to experience a lot of different types of cuisine, all depending on which country I am in. I always find the food aspect of traveling to be so exciting and it’s not uncommon to find me taking notes (usually a lot of them too!). One thing I have found common in several countries is stuffed cabbage leaves. Yes, they may be prepared and taste slightly different, but essentially, they are the same concept. I figured something so popular in so many places has to be good, and I had to make my own version for you all.

This cabbage leaf stuffed with black beans and rice is going to leave you begging for more. Share it with the family and watch them disappear off the plates! With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what you will need to complete your very own stuffed cabbage leaves.

whit cabbage with outer leaves on the side portrait

This recipe takes a little more time than most of our others and requires a few more ingredients, but the end result is worth every minute. So, you will need 13 ingredients and 40 minutes to complete the dish. 

Among the many notable ingredients used to create this dish, a few stand out against the rest. Firstly, we have cabbage. Cabbage provides us with a great source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fibre, and potassium, among many other nutrients. We also have brown rice, which offers us a source good source of a good source of healthy carbohydrates, protein, and magnesium, as well as an additional source of fibre. 

black bean stuffing in a bowl portrait

On top of all of this, we have black beans. As a member of the legume family, black beans consist of high amounts of folate and dietary fibre, as well being a good source of protein, and iron (among many other essential vitamins and minerals). 

The cabbage leaf stuffed with black beans and rice recipe is the perfect meal lunch or dinner because it’s: 

  • Highly nutritious.
  • Healthy.
  • A great source of protein – 17g per serve.
  • A great source of dietary fibre – 15g per serve. 
  • Something the whole family can enjoy. 

cabbage leaf with stuffing portrait

This dish is best eaten soon after being cooked for the best taste and quality. However, if you do need to store any, I would recommend placing your stuffed cabbage leaves in an airtight container and put them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. 

Now what are you waiting for? Go and get cooking! 

Liked this recipe? Why not check out our Potato Stew with Green Beans and Roasted Peanuts for more exciting lunch or dinner ideas. 

Cabbage Leaf stuffed with black beans and rice with fork portrait

Ingredients
6
Prep time
10 minutes
Total time
Category: Lunch, Dinner
Serves: 3
Allergens: Cilantro, Soy

Ingredients

US Metric

For the cabbage

  • ½ tsp olive oil
  • 16 oz white cabbage (carefully remove outer leaves and wash)

For the filling

  • 1 cup black beans
  • 1 tbsp dried smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp sea salt

For the rice

  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 2 cups water

For the onion

  • ½ tsp olive oil
  • 1 medium red onion (thinly sliced)

For the topping

  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (roasted)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce

Directions

  1. Boil the rice in a big pot of water for about 25-30 minutes until soft.
  2. Use a skillet and sauté the onions in the olive oil for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
  3. Use a big bowl and mix half the rice with the filling ingredients and the onion.
  4. To make the outer cabbage leaves soft boil them for about 5 minutes in water.
  5. The rest of the cabbage can be chopped and sauteed for 5-10 minutes as a side dish or put into the mixture with the filling.
  6. To stuff the cabbage leaves place about 1 TBS or more on the leaf and fold it, to make sure no filling comes out wrap it with twine.
  7. Before serving fry the stuffed cabbage leaves in olive oil with the rest of the cabbage for about 5 minutes.
  8. Put the stuffed leaves on a plate and sprinkle with the topping, serve the rest of the rice and cabbage as side dish.
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