FESTIVE CABBAGE & WILD RICE STUFFING

4 servings, 1 hour

INGREDIENTS

• 1 medium head of cabbage, cut into 6-8 wedges

• 3 tbsp ghee

• 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds

• 1/2 tsp ajwain seeds 

• 1 cup leeks, chopped and rinsed 

• 2 tsp dried thyme 

• 3 tbsp gluten free all-purpose flour mix

• 3 cups veggie broth (or bone broth) 

• 2 cups cooked wild rice (1 cup uncooked)

• Salt and pepper to taste 

• Fresh lemon juice for serving 

• Fresh chopped parsley for serving 

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375. If you haven't already cooked your wild rice, go ahead and simmer it with 2-3 cups of liquid or according to package instructions.

2. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a large saucepan over medium heat (large enough to fit all the cabbage slices. Even if it is tight, don't worry, they will reduce in size as they cook)

3. Add the cabbage slices, sprinkle with salt, cover and allow to cook on both sides for 5 mins each.

4. While that is heating, dry roast the ajwain and fennel seeds in a small saucepan until aromatic. Then add those to a spice grinder and grind into a uniform powder. Set aside.

5. Once cabbage is cooked, transfer to another plate and set aside. 

6. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of ghee to the same saucepan you used to cook the cabbage and add the leeks. Cook about 2 minutes, then add the ground spices and thyme.

7. Then add the flour, sauté for about 1 minute, then add the broth. 

8. Mix together for about 1-2 minutes, then nestle back in the cabbage and scoop in the cooked wild rice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

9. Bake for 10-15 minutes uncovered to make sure everything is cooked through and cabbage is tender. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with a spritz of lemon juice. Enjoy! 

   
   

#parties #winter #fall #vata #kapha #pitta

Notes

• I am not going to lie, this one is not a particularly easy or quick meal - but it is not too bad once you make it. My intention is for this to be a fabulous melt-in-your-mouth & gut-friendly side dish (or main dish) during parties, holidays, and get-togethers.

• Cabbage is a great winter-time veggie. When I think of cabbage, I think of a lung tonic (lung strengthening) and mood uplifter - which makes it great for the wintertime if you think about it - strengthening the lungs to avoid coughs and colds and aiding in seasonal affective disorder. It is a great kapha veggie.

• Sometimes cabbage can be gas-forming and drying, but when combined with the right spices and paired with broth and ghee, its not as bad for gas & dry-prone vatas - like anything else, it is all in how you cook and combine something, not always the food itself.