How to blanch cabbage for cabbage rolls. Delicious cabbage rolls (and how to cut cabbage)

Almost everyone loves homemade cabbage rolls, but most housewives cook them infrequently. The reason often lies in the difficulty of preparing cabbage. After all, it is necessary to do cabbage leaves soft and flexible, while not damaging their structure, separating from the head. To do this, you have to boil the head of cabbage, constantly checking with a knife how easily the leaves are separated, and remove them, at the risk of getting burned. However, this method of preparing cabbage is already outdated, and if you have a microwave oven at home, you can cope with the task faster and easier. Cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave is easy to prepare, even for inexperienced chefs, this is not difficult.

Cooking features

The process of preparing cabbage for cabbage rolls using a microwave is so simple that it does not require any culinary skills. But still, knowing a few subtleties does not hurt.

For cabbage rolls, it is better to choose young flattened cabbage - these varieties have more flexible and soft leaves.
In order for the leaves to separate well after processing the head of cabbage in the microwave, several deep cuts around the stalk must be made before placing it in the microwave oven.
It will be easier to separate the leaves if you place the head of cabbage under a stream of cool water.
If the cabbage is young and the leaves are easily separated from the head, you can cook the leaves in the microwave. It will take less time than processing a whole head of cabbage.
If the head of cabbage is placed in a bag, then the leaves will soften a little faster. This method is worth choosing if you want to save time.

Preparing cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave with a whole head or leaves, in or without a bag, varies slightly.

How to cook cabbage leaves for cabbage rolls

heads of young cabbage - 1.5–2 kg in total;
water - 0.2–0.3 l.

Cooking method:

Wash the cabbage well.
Carefully disassemble the head of cabbage into leaves, trying not to break their integrity.
Moisten the leaves with water.
Place a few leaves on a microwave safe plate.
Turn on the microwave at full power. Set a timer for 3 minutes.
Remove the plate, remove the leaves from it. Put in a new batch and process in the same way.

Continue processing the cabbage in this way until there is right amount leaves. Remember that this method is only suitable for young cabbage of early varieties - it will be problematic to separate the leaves from the stalk from a large head of autumn varieties without damaging them.

Cooking cabbage in the microwave

white cabbage - 1.5–2 kg.

Cooking method:

Wash the cabbage well. It is important that its dimensions are suitable so that it can be put in a microwave oven.
Remove the upper leaves - they are usually sluggish, spoiled by insects.
Cut the stalk as deep as possible, make several deep cuts around it.
Place a flat dish in the microwave. Some do without it, but washing the dish is easier than a microwave stand, so it is advisable to still use it.
Put a head of cabbage on a dish so that the place where the stalk was was at the bottom.
Turn on the microwave for 10 minutes, choosing the maximum power.
Carefully, so as not to burn yourself, remove the head of cabbage and place it in a clean sink. Cool under running water.
Carefully separate, if necessary, helping yourself with a knife, the upper leaves.
When you notice that the remaining leaves are tightly attached to the head and you risk tearing them by peeling them off, place the head in the microwave again. This time, the microwave oven is enough to turn on for 5 minutes.
Cool the head again and continue to remove the cabbage leaves.

You need to repeat the five-minute processing of the head of cabbage in the microwave until you almost completely disassemble it into leaves. After that, dense veins will have to be cut out or beaten off with a culinary hammer, since they remain tough even after microwave processing, which makes it impossible to form cabbage rolls.

Cabbage for cabbage rolls in a bag

head of cabbage - 1–1.5 kg.

Cooking method:

Wash the head of cabbage, remove sluggish leaves. Make deep cuts around the stalk.
Place the head of cabbage in a bag or in a roasting sleeve (the latter option is preferable). Poke a few holes with a toothpick to let the steam escape.
Put the bag of cabbage in the microwave, turn it on for 3 minutes, setting the maximum power.
Remove, cool under running water and remove the top leaves. Repeat the procedure several times until the desired number of leaves is reached.

Using the same technology, it is advisable to cook for cabbage rolls and chinese cabbage. This will take less time: 2 minutes. In addition, a single treatment should be enough to soften it.

Prepare cabbage for cabbage rolls microwave oven possible quickly and safely. Knowing this method, you will pamper your loved ones with cabbage rolls much more often.

The most difficult step in the preparation of cabbage rolls is to separate the cabbage leaves from the head so that they do not break, but do not turn out to be too soft. Cabbage for stuffed cabbage in the microwave softens enough to wrap the filling in it, but remains elastic. Unlike the standard method using a pot of boiling water, the microwave cooks the leaves completely and retains their strength.

Recipe for softening cabbage in the microwave

The way to soften cabbage for stuffed cabbage in is much easier than the standard method with boiling water. With a microwave oven, there is no need to specifically select soft varieties, heat a large container of water and try to withstand the right time so that the leaves do not scald.

You can soften even young cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave. In boiling water, its leaves quickly boil and tear while minced meat is wrapped in them, unlike the more modern way.

For the preparation of cabbage rolls, a head of cabbage weighing 1.5-2 kg is suitable. It can be put directly into the oven or wrapped in cling film.

Hot cabbage after getting out of the microwave should immediately pour over cold water. So the leaves are easier to separate from the stalk, and you can immediately wrap the minced meat in them.

Another cabbage recipe for cabbage rolls

The easiest way is to put the cabbage in the microwave for 10 minutes and do not cover with anything. However, many housewives prefer to use a baking sleeve or wrap a head of cabbage in plastic bag or cling film. Thus, the moisture does not evaporate, but remains in the leaves. They bake more evenly and become soft even in the center.

A head of cabbage in a sleeve or film can also be cooked in several stages, but it is easier to place it for 10-15 minutes at a lower temperature. After that, it is dipped in foil into cold water, and when it cools down a bit, they begin to parse the leaves. All veins are removed sharp knife so that they do not spoil the taste ready meal. However, instead, the leaves can be gently beaten off with a hammer, while it is important not to damage them.

How to choose the right cabbage?

If you choose cabbage for cabbage rolls and cook it in boiling water, you need to know a few subtleties. The shape, size, color of the leaves, as well as the structure of the vegetable matter. In the microwave, you can cook any cabbage so that it is convenient to wrap minced meat in it. However, if you follow the advice of experienced housewives, it will be even easier to cook cabbage:

the head of cabbage should not have a round, but an elongated shape - the leaves are separated from such a cabbage much easier;
cabbage should have large leaves - if they are small, it will be difficult to wrap minced meat in them, and the cooking process will take a long time;
the leaves should be light (white with a greenish tint), without black dots, tears and damage, signs of fungus or mold;
individual leaves must be dense, thick and resilient, otherwise they will quickly tear, and the filling cannot be wrapped in them;
fading cabbage is not good - it can be stewed with meat, and for cabbage rolls, get another head of cabbage.

You can soften cabbage leaves not only in boiling water or in a microwave oven. Cold has a similar effect.

First you need to freeze whole head of cabbage and then take it out of the freezer and defrost at room temperature. However, after processing, the cabbage can only be used for the preparation of cabbage rolls and cannot be stored even frozen.

Preparing cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave to soften is the easiest way. Even a novice hostess will be able to cope with cooking according to this recipe. The leaves are soft and elastic, keep their shape well and do not allow cabbage rolls to fall apart.

In a house where there are many different kitchen appliances cooking becomes a real pleasure. If you show imagination, then some devices can be found not quite standard application. For example, not everyone knows how to cook. It turns out that doing this is not at all difficult.

Waiting minutes

Before starting to cook cabbage rolls, every housewife first of all goes to the store or to the market. The choice of products must be treated very carefully, because they will mainly affect the result. Among the general list, special attention is paid to cabbage. To begin with, you need to remember two conditions:

You should not take a head for cabbage rolls of a round shape. The leaves are strong and tough. It is better to take one that is slightly flattened and looks like a pill. Such cabbage leaves will be thin and rather long.
The head of cabbage should be without damage: mechanical in the form of cracks and diseases in the form of black dots inside.

Now the hostess is faced with the task of preparing it for work. It is necessary to make sure that the leaves become soft and pliable. Few people know how to cook cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave.

There is no secret here. This is done as follows:

A head of cabbage weighing 2 kilograms must be put in the oven and the door closed.
Set the timer for 10 minutes, and it is better to choose the maximum power (900 watts).
After the call, take out the product and immediately put it under a stream of cold water.
After that, it must be squeezed out by hand. If it is not quite soft yet, then the procedure can be repeated (2-3 minutes).

This is the easiest option on how to cook cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave. Minimum labor costs in a short time.

Slowly and surely

Those who are not used to relying on chance can use another option. There is another way that will teach you how to cook cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave. It is basically the same as the previous one. True, there are some clarifications:

First, turn the head of cabbage upside down and make four deep cuts around it with a sharp knife.
Place the cabbage in the oven for 10 minutes.
Remove the vegetable and carefully separate the top few leaves. You need to remove only those leaves that themselves lag behind.
Once again, make cuts around the base and again send the product to the microwave, but for 5 minutes, no more. This must be done until the last leaf is removed.
Gather the separated products together and send them back to the oven for 4-5 minutes. After that, they will become completely transparent. It will be easy and simple to wrap minced meat in them. Soft thin leaves retain their plasticity, and the filling will never fall out of them.

This option is longer, but reliable.

hot water effect

But the microwave is not the only option on how to remove leaves from cabbage for cabbage rolls. After all, this dish was prepared long before they invented a cunning machine. And the hostesses found another way out of the situation. It is understood that the product softens at elevated temperatures. But how to create such conditions? The easiest way is to use boiling water. This was the secret of our grandmothers.

Everything was done like this:

First, with a sharp knife, you need to cut the stalk.
At this time, boil water in a large saucepan.
Dip the prepared product into it and wait 7-10 minutes.
Remove the head of cabbage, put it on a plate and carefully separate the top leaves.
Make incisions again, but deeper, and repeat the procedure.

Each time the head will become smaller and smaller. At the last stage, the process can be considered completed. Too much big chunks can be divided in half, and thick stems can simply be cut out. This method of how to remove leaves from cabbage for cabbage rolls is good because it does not require re-treatment of the leaves. But he also has disadvantages. The hostess has to constantly deal with boiling liquid and hot product, and this is not at all safe.

cooking

Having mastered the method of processing cabbage, you can take on the dish itself. How to cook will explain step by step how this can be done.

First of all, you need to collect everything on the table necessary products: a kilogram of meat, 2 heads of fresh cabbage, onion, a glass of rice, 1 carrot, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 500 grams of tomato, a bunch of parsley, pepper, salt and any spices.

To make cabbage rolls, the recipe (step by step) involves the following steps:

Rice pour boiling water and leave for half an hour.
In any of the chosen ways, divide the head of cabbage into leaves.
Lightly fry the chopped onion in a frying pan. A little later, add the grated carrot, tomato, salt and pepper. The mixture should boil well.
Grind the meat with an immersion blender. You can also use a meat grinder, but then it is better to scroll the mass twice.
Strain the rice and add to the meat along with the stewed vegetables. Mix the products well. This will be the filling.
Put a little minced meat on each cabbage leaf, and then, wrapping the edges, squeeze tightly and form a stuffed cabbage.
Place semi-finished products in a roaster or on a pallet, placing them with a seam down. After that, pour the tomato diluted with water, sprinkle with chopped herbs and put in the oven.

After a couple of hours, tender and fragrant cabbage rolls will be ready.

Simplified version

For those who don't want to waste time fiddling with leaves, there is another way. They can cook from fresh cabbage.

And they turn out no worse than usual. For work you will need: 400 grams of minced meat and a head of approximately the same mass, a glass of rice, a carrot, an egg, 2 onions and a tablespoon of tomato paste.

The cooking method is not complicated at all:

First, the cabbage must be arbitrarily cut with a knife, pour hot water and leave for 5-7 minutes so that all the bitterness leaves it.
During this time, boil the rice. Water must be salted.
Combine the minced meat with half of the prepared cabbage and rice. After that, add one chopped onion, egg and spices. Mix the products.
Form cutlets from the resulting mass and place them on a tray, previously lined with the remains of cabbage.
Fry the remaining onion with carrots and put on top.
Pour everything with a glass of water and put in the oven. In an hour everything will be ready.

Those who do not want to suffer with cutlets can take meat instead of minced meat and simply cut it into small pieces.

Cold treatment

It turns out that elevated temperature is not the only way to change the state of a product. The same results can be achieved with the reverse action. This means that cabbage leaves for cabbage rolls need to be cooled down a lot. This problem can easily be handled by a conventional refrigerator.

You just need to put the head of cabbage in advance freezer hours for 10-12, and then take out and defrost in vivo. Surprisingly, cabbage in this case becomes simply unrecognizable: soft, tender and very plastic. You can wrap anything in it. It is very convenient and absolutely safe. But this method also has its own catch. Cabbage leaves processed in this way will subsequently be unsuitable for other dishes. Only cabbage rolls can be made from them, so you will have to make so many fillings to use up the entire head of cabbage. Also, they can't be stored. Even in the refrigerator, this product will spoil very quickly.

Technical capabilities

It is not necessary to pre-process for cabbage rolls in the microwave. There are many other appliances in the kitchen, which are also always at hand. Take, for example, a steamer.

Everyone knows her abilities fast food many dishes. This can also be used for preparatory stage. The procedure is very similar to the option with boiling water in a saucepan. But everything is done much faster. After all, time is an expensive pleasure, and they should not be scattered. The sequence of actions remains the same. You just need to lower the head of cabbage into a double boiler for a couple of minutes. After that, take it out and carefully cut off the top leaves. Further, the procedure is repeated until the bare stump remains in the hands of the hostess. After that, it remains only to carefully review the prepared product. Some leaves can be cut off the thickening on the stem. If the veins are too large, then it is better to remove them altogether with a sharp knife.

The first and main condition for branded cabbage rolls is correctly selected, chopped and cooked cabbage until softened. Delicate, successful, neat duckies are obtained if the cabbage leaf is thin and transparent, but intact and moderately strong. From such leaves, the dish comes out not only amazingly tasty, but also beautiful, appetizing, desirable.

Cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave in separate leaves

The preparation of cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave is very effective. It can be boiled until softened either in separate sheets or with a whole fork. You are lucky if you managed to parse the white cabbage into leaves without heat treatment. This is not easy: the raw head is fragile, the leaves break, they are poorly separated from the stalk. You can greatly facilitate the task by removing the stalk and substituting the head of cabbage under the tap with a powerful jet of hot water.

Put the whole leaves of the correct form on a plate and place in the microwave oven for 5-7 minutes. As a result of this processing, you will get white, almost transparent soft blanks for cabbage rolls. Thickenings on them can be cut with a sharp knife or gently beat off with a wooden mallet. Such a method would be the best, but it is difficult to disassemble the tight raw forks of the late white-headed beauty. Any doubts? Do not risk it, try to warm it up entirely.

Cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave with a whole head of cabbage

Connoisseurs recommend: you need to choose for this dish not a rounded, but a flattened head. The flat white leaf is large, the veins are thick, but short. From such blanks, it is easier to wrap cute identical cabbage rolls of a standard size. The stalk of the flattened fork is wide and short and easy to remove. Proper cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave for softening, it is prepared as follows:

Remove the upper “non-marketable” dark green layer from the purchased head, wash the head.
Using four to five deep incisions, excise the stalk and remove it.
Place the forks inside the bowl, the bowl into the microwave.
Turn on the stove at full power for 10-12 minutes.
Ready-to-use cabbage should be soft. If this is not the case, another two or three minutes of processing will not interfere with her.
Place the cooked head of cabbage under a stream of cold water.
Take it apart. Cabbage leaves are then easy to separate.

Such a recipe does not always give an ideal result. As you peel off layer by layer, you may notice that the sheets have not been cooked evenly until softened. Some of them will seem too hard for you. Select the parts that require additional cooking, place them to reheat, setting the time on the timer for 2-3 minutes. To cook a meal quickly experienced housewives do not seek to process a head of cabbage at a time, but boil it in stages.

How to make cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave in a few steps

Cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave for softening can be cooked more than once, but this will only speed up the process of preparing your favorite dish. The secret is simple:

Prepare the cabbage (wash thoroughly, remove the top layer, cut out the stalk).
Place the fork inside a deep microwave dish.
Boil without adding water, at full power, setting the timer for 5-6 minutes.
Place the hot head immediately under cold water. Easily separate 4-5 leaves that have had time to cook before softening.
Set the cabbage residue to warm up again for the same 5-6 minutes.
During this time, you will have time to cut off the thick veins and stuff the cabbage rolls with minced meat.
Place the heated again without delay under cold water, separate the soft layer and send it to the oven again.
When the forks are finished, almost all the leaves will be already wrapped and ready for further cooking.

That's all the wisdom on how to prepare cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave. Excellent result will delight your loved ones if you choose the right forks, prepare it and carefully monitor the cooking time. Having prepared this dish once with the help of a microwave, you will never want to return to the traditional complex boiling of a head of cabbage over a fire to soften it.