Short on time? No problem. This lazy day Lebanese stuffed cabbage recipe is just as delicious as the traditional recipe and ready in under 30 minutes. Made with ground beef, white rice, and a mint-and-cinnamon scented tomato sauce, your whole family will love this comfort food remix.
Everyone needs a quick, easy go-to dinner for those nights that you just can’t think to plan anything. In our house, it’s my Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage, made even easier by using Success Rice. With minimal mess and stress, it’s also helpful that this dish is delicious and includes protein, vegetables, and healthy fats, while being gluten-free!
Ingredients
- Success Rice: I used Success Rice’s white rice as I find it ideal to absorb the flavors around it, but they have a variety of options you can choose from, like brown or basmati rice.
- Ground beef: I like to use ground sirloin, which has a lower fat percentage, but ground chuck or anything you have will work!
- Cinnamon: Warm and slightly sweet, it pairs with the mint and blends with the tomato to create a delicious sauce.
- Garlic: Once cooked, garlic has an almost sweet, buttery taste while still being nutty and pungent.
- Tomato sauce: Seasoned with the cinnamon and mint, it makes a great sauce for the meat and rice to absorb.
- Diced tomatoes: With the cabbage, it adds some chunkiness to the dish and a yummy bite.
- Ground mint: Dried mint has a sligthly more earthy flavor than fresh, while still having sweet undertones.
- Green cabbage: A great source of potassium and vitamin C, cabbage has a satisfying crunch even when cooked.
Why Use Success Rice
Have you ever dealt with dry, crunchy rice? Or maybe rice that was so sticky and wet, it didn’t seem like it ever cooked all the way? Success takes out all the guesswork, so you get perfect rice everytime. Leaving you with the time and energy to focus on the rest of your meal. Not to mention that its boil-in-bag technology allows for perfect measurements, and no mess. Successful rice for every dish in just 10 minutes!
How to Make Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage
The only prep that’s needed for my Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage is washing and chopping a head of cabbage.
Then take your bag of success rice and put it in a pot of water and follow package instructions.
Then while rice is cooking, take your ground beef and start browning it in a little bit of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Once your beef is all cooked, use a microplane to grate your garlic into the pan.
Add the chopped cabbage.
Then sprinkle in the dried mint and cinnamon.
Slowly stir in the tomato sauce.
At this point your rice should be done, so you can stir that into the mix.
Followed by the can of diced tomatoes. Cover and simmer until the cabbage is soft, about 20 minutes.
I like to serve mine with a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream, but that’s optional if you don’t like it or just don’t have it.
Serve and enjoy your Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage, made easier with the help of Success Rice!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is it called malfouf?
Malfouf is the Arabic word for both “rolled” and “cabbage.” No, serious! As such, it’s another way to refer to Lebanese stuffed cabbage rolls.
How long does cabbage take to soften?
Depending on the size and thickness, anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.
How do you store leftovers?
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Lebanese Recipes
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For a quick, stress-free meal, you can’t go wrong with my Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage, or with choosing Success Rice.
Your spoon is waiting.
Lazy Day Lebanese Stuffed Cabbage
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare rice according to package instructions.
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat then add the ground sirloin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then begin breaking up with a wooden spoon in to bite-sized pieces. Continue browning the ground beef, about 6-8 minutes.
- Next, add in the garlic, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and ground mint. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Stir in the cooked rice and cabbage then bring back to a boil. Reduce to low then cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Serve warm with a dollop of plain yogurt if you wish.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This recipe is written in partnership with Success Rice. All thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible.