Tender cabbage leaves, stuffed with a mix of spiced rice and beef, and infused with the combined flavours of garlic and lemon, spawn the juiciest and most delicious rolls you will ever eat! Serve malfoof with a side of Greek yogurt and impress your family and guests!
Malfoof (Stuffed Cabbage)
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 green cabbage
- 1 cup of rice
- 1½ pounds of ground beef
- 2 garlic bulbs, minced
- 2 tablespoons of vinegar
- 1 cup of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of allspice
- 1 tablespoon of pepper
- 2 tablespoons of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons of cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
Instructions
- In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of salt, the rice, and hot water (from the tap) and let it soak for 30 minutes.
- Place the cabbage on a cutting board to core side up.
- Beginning at the core, make 4 vertical cuts across the cabbage.
- Fill pot with water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar and boil.
- Once it reaches a boil, lower the heat and add the cabbage.
- Every 3 minutes, use a tong to remove one layer of the cabbage and place it in a colander to drain (you will need to make more vertical cuts as the cabbage boils).
- Rinse the rice (that has been soaking) in a rice colander and drain.
- Add the rice, meat, spices, and one garlic bulb (that has been minced) to a mixing bowl and combine.
- Use a knife to remove the ribs off of the cabbage leaves.
- Line your cooking pot with the ribs.
- Place one leaf at a time on a plate or cutting board (longer side facing you).
- Add 1 tablespoon of filling onto the edge of each leaf (the longer side facing you).
- Roll the leaf over the stuffing once before folding it in from the left and the right.
- Continue to roll the leaf tightly until you have rolled the entire leaf
- Stack the stuffed cabbage rolls, seam side down, in your pot.
- Once you’re done stuffing, boil water (about 7 cups) in a water boiler.
- In the meantime, add 1 cup of lemon juice and the other garlic bulb (that has been minced) to your pot.
- Add the boiled water to your pot (just below the top layer of stuffed cabbage rolls).
- Turn your stove on high heat.
- Once the water reaches a boil in the pot, lower the heat, cover the stuffed cabbage rolls with a plate (backside up), and cover with a lid.
- Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour.