Cabbage A la Cluj with Meat and Mushrooms

To prepare a delicious layered cabbage with meat and rice, we start by preparing the necessary ingredients. The first step is to deal with the cabbage. We take a fresh cabbage, which we chop finely. We place the cabbage in a bowl and salt it to taste, letting it release its juice. In a pan heated with 100 ml of oil, we add the chopped cabbage and sauté it over medium heat. It is important to stir occasionally, and if we notice that the cabbage sticks or dries out, we can add a little warm water to keep it juicy. Towards the end of cooking, we add thyme and dill, to taste, to give it a fragrant and fresh flavor.

In another pan, we take care of the onion and mushrooms. We chop the onion finely and, once the oil in the pan is hot, we add it along with the sliced mushrooms. We sauté the mixture until the onion becomes glassy and the mushrooms release their liquid, which should evaporate completely. Finally, we season with salt, pepper, and a little paprika, to taste, to enhance the flavors.

Meanwhile, we boil the rice in a pot with water and a little salt. The rice should be well washed beforehand to remove excess starch. After it is cooked, we drain the water and mix it with the onion and mushroom mixture, ensuring that each grain of rice is coated with the flavors of the vegetables.

Now, let's take care of the meat. In a pan, we heat the remaining oil and add diced meat. We sauté the meat until it becomes golden and its juice evaporates completely. We season with salt and pepper, making sure each piece is well seasoned.

In a baking dish, we begin to build the layers. We place the first layer of sautéed cabbage, followed by a layer of meat, then a layer of the mushroom and rice mixture. We repeat this process until the ingredients are used up, ensuring that the last layer is cabbage. On top, we pour a generous layer of sour cream, which will add a creamy texture and rich flavor.

We preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and place the dish in for about 10-20 minutes, until the sour cream is heated and slightly golden. This dish is delicious served warm, as a main course, and pairs perfectly with a portion of polenta and hot peppers, with the option to add extra sour cream on top if desired. This recipe not only combines flavors and textures but also offers a comforting meal, perfect for a family evening or with friends.

 Ingredients: -1 kg raw or pickled cabbage -1 kg mushrooms -1 kg minced meat (mix of beef and pork) -200 g rice -250 ml oil -1 large onion -1 bunch of dill -thyme -tomato paste -salt -pepper -paprika -sour cream

 Tags:  onion meat cabbage rice broth oil sour cream life mushrooms pig