The cabbage and bean rolls are a simple and delightful dish, perfect to serve either as an appetizer or a main course. This is a vegan version of the classic cabbage rolls usually filled with meat. The cabbage leaves are first boiled and then stuffed with this filling based on a light sauté of carrots and onion (I did not use celery, but if you want you can add it), borlotti beans, and a little tomato. They cook quickly in a pan for a few minutes and are delicious.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 1 person
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients
- 4 leaves savoy cabbage
- 3.5 oz canned borlotti beans (drained weight)
- 2 oz carrots
- 0.9 oz white onion
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- to taste fine salt
- to taste black pepper
Tools
- Kitchen scale
- Pot
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Pan
- Colander
- Wooden spoon
- Cloth
- Chopper
- Spoon
- Spatula
Steps
To prepare the cabbage and bean rolls…
First, in a pot, heat water to boil the cabbage leaves. When it boils, immerse them and cook for about 10 minutes. Check that the thickest part of the rib is soft.
While the water is boiling, take the cabbage, remove 4 not too large leaves, discarding the damaged and yellow ones, and wash them well.
While the cabbage is cooking, peel and chop both the onion and carrots using a chopper or knife.
Pour the chopped vegetables into a pan with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and sauté over medium heat.
Then add the drained borlotti beans, the tomato paste, and a little water. Cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
After cooking the cabbage, drain the leaves well and pat them dry with a cloth.
Transfer the borlotti bean mixture to the chopper and chop finely. If too hard, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of water.
Now take the cabbage leaves and fill them with the borlotti bean mixture, then close them forming rolls.
Take the previously used pan, clean, pour the other tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and when it is hot, place the rolls and cook them for about 5 minutes, turning them on each side to lightly brown. Salt and pepper them.
Serve them hot on their own or with your favorite side dish.
Storage
They can be stored for 2 or 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Variations
You can also cook the rolls in the oven or in an air fryer.
