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    Oh My Veggies » Vegetarian Recipes » Vegetarian Main Dishes

    Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

    Published: Mar 19, 2017 · by Sarah · Updated: Feb 15, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

     

    Do you ever crave lasagna but don't want to eat all of the extra carbs? Well then this Stuffed Cabbage Casserole is the perfect solution for you.

    Leafy green cabbage replaces wheat pasta for a light and satisfying meal that's flavorful enough to make you forget all about the carbohydrates.

    Although, I should probably clarify that it's not entirely free of carbohydrates so that the Carb Police don't come after me. The lentils and brown rice have a decent amount, but they're the good kind, known as complex carbohydrates, which have been shown to stabilize blood sugar, improve digestion, and boost metabolism. Do not fear the complex carb!

    Stuffed Cabbage Casserole 8

    But let's move on from the carbs and talk about the real star of this casserole: green cabbage. Along with kale, broccoli, collards and Brussels sprouts, cabbage is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables which contain phytochemicals that are linked to lowering the risk of cancer. It also happens to be very affordable and is currently in season, making it a perfect option to serve at the dinner table right now.

    To use it in this casserole, we start by blanching it in boiling water for about 5 minutes. From there, we assemble the sauce, which is loaded with vegetables like diced tomatoes, onion, carrots, mushrooms, brown rice and lentils. Then we layer the cabbage in a casserole dish with the sauce in between, top it with just enough cheese and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.

    Stuffed Cabbage Casserole 7
    Outside of chopping the vegetables, it's fairly easy to make and depending on how many mouths you have to feed, there should be enough leftover for the next day or even the next month, as it also freezes well.

    It's a great source of vegetarian protein, packing in 20 grams per serving, and a little fresh parsley is the perfect simple, yet elegant way to finish it off.

    Recipe

    Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe

    Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

    This hearty vegetarian version of stuffed cabbage casserole is packed with protein and vegetables.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Keyword: stuffed cabbage casserole, stuffed cabbage recipe, vegetarian casserole, Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
    Servings: 6 large servings
    Calories: 333kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Ingredients

    • 12 cups thinly sliced green cabbage approximately 2 small cabbages
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion diced
    • 2 large carrots diced
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 1 15-ounce ounce can tomato sauce
    • 6 ounces tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 2 cups cooked brown lentils*
    • 1 cup cooked brown rice**
    • 1 ½ cups shredded Italian blend cheese or a combination of mozzarella and parmesan
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the cabbage to the boiling water and cook it for 5 to 7 minutes, until slightly tender. I prefer it to have a little crunch, but you can cook it longer if a softer texture is desired. Drain the cabbage in a colander, rinse with cold water and set aside.
    • In the same large pot, warm the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion, carrots, and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the mushrooms, sprinkle with salt & pepper, and continue to cook for 5 more minutes, until the mushrooms have released their juices.
    • Stir in the dried herbs, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste, then bring to a low boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils and brown rice.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F, then lightly grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
    • Use a paper towel to blot the cabbage to make sure it's dry, then distribute half of it along the bottom of the dish and top with half of the sauce. Layer the remaining cabbage on top and finish with the remaining sauce. Top with cheese.
    • Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Top with fresh parsley and serve warm.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you would like to freeze the leftovers, allow it to cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven at 350º for 20-30 minutes before serving.
    *¾ cup dry lentils yields approximately 2 cups cooked
    **½ cup dry rice yields approximately 1 cup cooked. I like to use Trader Joe's frozen brown rice in this recipe to save time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 18gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 517mgPotassium: 1092mgFiber: 12gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 3993IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 187mgIron: 5mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Vegetarian Meal Plan | Baked Orzo, Green Goddess Potatoes & Cauliflower Tacos
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    Vegetarian Main Dishes, Vegetarian Recipes cabbage, casserole, lentils, main dishes, mushrooms

    sarah cook, author of making thyme for health

    About Sarah

    Sarah Cook is a vegetarian food blogger living in Athens, Georgia. Her blog Making Thyme for Health features simple, seasonal, and healthy recipes made from whole food ingredients. Outside of cooking, she enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle, traveling and drinking wine.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade says

      February 16, 2016 at 1:55 pm

      I love the addition of cabbage and lentils in this lasagna! Super delicious AND nutritious! 🙂 Perfect with some vegan cheese!

      Reply
      • Sarah Cook says

        February 16, 2016 at 11:19 pm

        Thanks Kathleen! I think it would be great with vegan cheese too. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Michelle says

      February 16, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      This looks like a good comfort food meal! Since I am Vegan, I will try it with Vegan cheese.

      Reply
    3. Dexter Bavzee says

      March 12, 2016 at 5:52 am

      Those look amazing and I can totally understand how it is difficult for you to step back and let someone else do for you. I get that. I think you are like me and a giver and to have someone else do for you is hard to accept but sometimes there are times when you just need to sit back and embrace the fact that someone else wants to gift you with something, right? I love cabbage rolls and these look amazing and simple enough to make. Thanks to you and your lovely mom!

      Reply
    4. Cathy Woofter says

      September 30, 2016 at 10:41 am

      Being a diabetic, I am always looking to cut my carbs where it makes sense for me. Substituting soy crumbles for all or part of the lentils and rice would work for me! This sounds delicious and I plan to make it soon! MMMmmmmm Mushrooms!!

      Reply
    5. M says

      October 18, 2016 at 7:43 am

      Hi for cabbage do you cut it has pasta strips or just chop in bite size???

      Reply
      • Sarah Cook says

        October 18, 2016 at 1:24 pm

        You cut it into slices. Here's a photo tutorial: http://www.cookthink.com/reference/125/How_to_slice_cabbage

        I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Jennifer says

          February 01, 2018 at 1:56 pm

          Where's the photo tutorial you referenced? ...

          Reply
    6. lmk says

      March 20, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      could you share the nutritional info?

      Reply
    7. puree manufacturers says

      May 24, 2017 at 10:20 am

      It looks delicious, thanks for the post, I share it

      Reply
    8. irene says

      June 21, 2017 at 4:36 am

      Love this recipe, now i will get to eat mushrooms almost on a daily basis during its season. thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    9. Kim says

      July 25, 2017 at 8:05 pm

      This was unexpectedly awesome! I do not have too many uses for the cabbage from our CSA except Asian salads and happened upon this recipe. My husband and I both loved it. I really wasn't sure we would like cabbage in an Italian dish, but the pairing was perfect! Thank you for the great recipe! I will definitely keep it on my 'to make again list.' It would be great for company too!

      Reply
    10. Fran B says

      July 28, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      Just made this tonight..Wow! Very delicious but I did use vegetarian cheese.. I will definitely add this recipe to my list of vegan recipes 🙂

      Reply
    11. Fran B says

      July 28, 2017 at 4:52 pm

      Loved this recipe..Will be making this again!

      Reply
    12. Jadyn says

      August 07, 2017 at 10:14 pm

      I loved this dish 🙂 halved the recipe though. made it last week and it was so good. I finished feeling great afterward, which was nice because usually with pasta and hot dishes I feel full and uncomfortable afterward.

      Reply
      • Jadyn says

        August 07, 2017 at 10:17 pm

        ooh it would be really good to do a Mexican hot dish kind of like this. it could be corn, enchilada sauce, peppers, but keep cabbage as the base... hmmm

        Reply
    13. Susan says

      September 13, 2017 at 12:23 pm

      This was a great recipe.
      It made a TON!
      To break up the steps, I made the filling on a Sunday afternoon, and then froze half and put the other half in a zip-lock bag in the fridge. On the weeknight we ate it, I blanched the cabbage (half the amount), assembled the casserole and put it in the oven. Meat eaters and vegetarians in the the family both loved it, and I have the filling already done to make a second casserole in the coming weeks.

      Reply
    14. Alexandra says

      November 20, 2017 at 8:15 am

      This looks so amazing! Great blog!

      Reply
      • Katie Trant says

        November 20, 2017 at 9:32 am

        Thanks Alexandra!

        Reply
    15. Valerie Slater says

      April 11, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      Can quinoa be substituted for the rice? If so, it will be a suitable Passover dish!

      Reply
    16. Michelle says

      November 06, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      How would you adapt this recipe for a slow cooker (crock pot)?

      Reply
    17. Sheila says

      May 17, 2023 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      This is downright delicious!! It has become my "company" meal-! With a green salad, a glass of wine- It doesn't get any better 🙂 Thanks!

      Reply
    4.72 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
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