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a skillet of finely crumbled cooked ground beef mixed with many short shredded cabbage ribbons about a quarter-inch wide, diced tomatoes and a modest amount of tiny irregular cracked wheat bulgur grains rather than rice, all lightly coated with tomato
Andre Lewis

Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet

Slice the cabbage into short ribbons so it softens quickly and mixes comfortably with the beef and tomatoes. This is a stovetop skillet with cooked bulgur folded in near the end, which gives it a different grain and texture from a layered cabbage-and-rice bake. Keep a little bite in the cabbage. It should bend around the spoon without becoming a soft paste, and the tomato liquid should coat the mixture rather than leave a deep puddle at the bottom. A small amount of caraway makes the cabbage taste especially at home here.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 medium green cabbage about 1 lb, cut into short thin ribbons
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 cup medium bulgur
  • 3/4 cup water for bulgur
  • 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 oz, with juices
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/4 tsp caraway seeds
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Combine bulgur and its water in a saucepan, bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes until tender. Rest covered for 5 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, brown beef and onion in a deep 12-inch skillet for 7 to 8 minutes until the meat reaches 160°F. Drain excess fat and stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
  3. Add cabbage, tomatoes with their juices, broth, tomato paste, salt, paprika, caraway and pepper. Fold from the bottom, cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until the cabbage is tender with a little bite.
  4. Uncover and stir in cooked bulgur. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the grains are hot and excess liquid reduces to a coating.
  5. Rest off the heat for 3 minutes, stir from the bottom and serve in shallow bowls.