Let's Stuff It - Quinoa Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - "Lahanodolmathes" - California Greek Girl

I recently gave a Quinoa demonstration, and was asked to post this recipe. I served this delightful comfort food dish with my Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce.
This is a great alternative to using meat, and a wonderful additional to Meatless Mondays and the Lent season!
Quinoa can be found at Costco under Bob’s Red Mill products, and at your local supermarket.

Let’s Stuff It – Quinoa Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – “Lahanodolmathes”

This recipe is a healthier version using quinoa in place of meat. Quinoa can be found in your natural food stores.

Author: Mary Papoulias-Platis

Recipe type: Main Dish

Ingredients

2 green cabbage heads
2 carrots, shredded
2 onions, finely chopped
2 bunch green onions
1 fresh tomato, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried dill
1 cup chopped Italian parsley
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 cups rinsed quinoa
1 cup toasted pine nuts
Juice of one lemon
1-2 lemons for garnish

Instructions

Remove center core of cabbage with a sharp knife. Place one cabbage head in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes until semi-soft. Remove and drain.
Repeat with second head. Reserve the cabbage water for cooking.
Rinse quinoa three times with water. Drain.
In a large saute pan add 2 -3 tablespoons of olive oil and add onions, and carrots and cook on medium low until the onions are clear and soft.
Add the tomato, dill, salt, pepper, parsley, uncooked quinoa, pine nuts, and lemon juice. Cook on low for 10 minutes. Cool the filling.
Place a large dutch oven nearby your work surface.
Separate the cabbage rolls and place on paper towel.
Take one cabbage at a time and place 1 tablespoon of filling near the end and roll like an envelope. (See cooking technique here:
Place snugly onto the bottom of the pan. Continue placing second row on top.
Place a small plate on top of the dolmathes to keep them from floating to the top.
Use 6 cups of the reserved water, and pour gently in the pan.
Cover, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for 45 minutes.

For Cooking Techniques for this recipe .

Can be served plain with a drizzled with fresh lemon juice or with Greek Tzatziki sauce.

Tagged as: dolmathes, Greek food, lent dish, Let's Stuff It!, Meatless Mondays, quinoa, vegetarian

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Anthoula Loukos March 15, 2011 at: I am allergic to gluten and am a Greek living in the Bay Area! Your recipes look amazing
Mary Papoulias-Platis March 15, 2011 at: Anthoula,
Gluten is something new to me, so I can’t post any recipes quite yet about the specific ingredients and products. But, hopefully you can find a few recipes on my site and tweak them!
Best, Mary
Lizthechef December 3, 2012 at: Terrific twist on a classic recipe – wonderful!