For More Flavorful Sauteed Cabbage, Take A Cue From Greek Rice
Cabbage is one of the most cost-effective and versatile vegetables you can pick up at the grocery store. You can bring out a caramelized flavor by roasting it in wedges as easily as you can let it shine by shredding it into coleslaw.
Greek rice is flavorful enough as it is, made pilaf-style by first sauteeing and blooming aromatics with spices and then adding in the rice, broth, and lemon juice. Greek cabbage rice is, essentially, a rice pilaf that's heavier on the cabbage than it is on the rice. It starts with an aromatic base of onions, garlic, leeks, carrots, and celery, sauteed in olive oil. To this, you'll add tomato paste and hot paprika for an umami-rich, smoky flavor boost. Next, comes half a cabbage finely chopped (or shredded) and a few tablespoons of water to saute, before everything is covered and left to soften. Finally, you'll add a small portion of arborio rice, a bay leaf, and more water to turn this veggie saute into a vegetable-laden rice. The resulting rice will be creamy and chewy, while the vegetables will be tender with a smoky, sweet, and savory Mediterranean profile.
Serving ideas for Greek cabbage rice
This Greek-inspired dish can be finished with the juice of a lemon to brighten the flavors of the vegetables. But you can infuse even more citrusy flavor into the rice by adding in lemon zest along with the juice, like we do in our recipe for lemon rice pilaf. You can also make the rice and cabbage recipe richer and more savory by replacing the cooking water with chicken or vegetable broth.
To finish this rice, you can top it with fresh parsley along with a sprinkling of fresh feta for some herbaceous freshness and a salty, creamy element. Add some toasty crunch with roasted almond slivers, or give the dish an umami-rich chew with sliced kalamata olives. Otherwise, bring out the savoriness of the tomato paste with the addition of sun-dried tomatoes and a drizzle of the oil they come packed in. For an aromatic upgrade, garnish the dish with crispy fried onions or shallots.
Serve Greek cabbage rice alongside your favorite Mediterranean proteins. It's a great dish to pair with a fish dish like this Greek baked tilapia paired with a simple tapenade. Alternatively, serve it alongside a plate of beef and lamb gyros, or pair the cabbage rice with garlicky baked chicken and tzatziki. You can also make it a part of a Greek-inspired vegetarian meal to enjoy alongside mezze like an olive medley, hummus, roasted eggplant, and spanakopita.
