Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 51 votes

Niño Envuelto Recipe (Rice & Beef Wrapped in Cabbage)

Niño Envuelto Recipe (Rice and Beef Wrapped in Cabbage): a juicy mixture of minced beef and rice wrapped in cabbage, with roots in Middle Eastern Cuisine.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 539 kcal
Course: Snacks , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Dominican

Ingredients

  • 1 head of cabbage (pick one with thin outer layers)
For the filling
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 8 basil leaves
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground)
  • 1 pound minced beef [0.45 kg]
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 3 cups cooked white rice (arroz blanco per our recipe)
For the tomato sauce for serving
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups large tomato peeled and seeded
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • ¼ teaspoon oregano (dry, ground)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (white, granulated)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground) (or to taste)

Instructions

1. Soak
    Cup of Yum
  1. Separate the outermost leaves of the cabbage. Try not to break them. Soak in boiling-hot water cooking over low heat until they are tender but firm. Soak in ice cold water until it cools to room temperature.
2. Remove
  1. Remove from the water, discard water and set aside the leaves.
For the filling.
1. Make seasoning
  1. Pulse garlic, basil, bell pepper, onion, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pepper in the food processor until you obtain a coarse paste.
2. Mix
  1. Scoop this paste onto the ground beef and mix well.
3. Simmer
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and brown. Add water and the tomato sauce. Simmer covered until the meat is cooked through and the juices have evaporated (about 15 mins.).
4. Cooling
  1. Mix the rice with the meat and remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature and set aside.
Prepare the sauce for serving
1. Heat
  1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the tomatoes and garlic.
2. Simmer
  1. Cover and simmer until the tomatoes are cooked through, mash them with a potato masher. Add a teaspoon of oregano, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
How to make the cabbage rolls
1. Preheat
  1. Preheat oven to 400 ºF [200 ºC]
2. Making rolls
  1. Put 2 tablespoons of the rice and beef mixture in the center of one of the leaves. Wrap tightly (using more leaves if necessary) securing the bundle with a toothpick if necessary.
3. Bake
  1. Place the pockets in a baking pan and cover with the sauce. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Serve
  1. Remove the toothpicks, if you used any, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • I have to say that I'm not very fond of making any dish that requires wrapping (looking at you, pasteles en hoja!). Working with the cabbage leaves is kind of messy, so I don't have any advice on how to do it, so just wing it.

Nutrition Information

Calories 539kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 34g (52%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 54mg (18%) Sodium 968mg (40%) Potassium 861mg (25%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 1713IU (34%) Vitamin C 98mg (109%) Calcium 101mg (10%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 539

% Daily Value*

Calories 539kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 34g 52%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 54mg 18%
Sodium 968mg 40%
Potassium 861mg 18%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 11g 22%
Vitamin A 1713IU 34%
Vitamin C 98mg 109%
Calcium 101mg 10%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.