Lahana is savory delicious dish that I remember fondly from my childhood. This dish consists of meat and rice stuffed inside of cabbage. Savoy cabbage is the best kind of cabbage to use for this dish, but I usually cannot find it and use green cabbage, which also works fine so long as you cut the thick middle vein out. The lemon juice, mint, tomato, and pomegranate molasses give these cabbage rolls a savory scrumptious flavor. Pomegranate molasses can be found in any Arabic grocery store and is a vital ingredient. You can use dried or fresh mint. I like to use fresh mint because I grow it in my garden, but dried will work just as well. I hope you all enjoy the recipe!

Yield: 12

Lahana (Syrian Meat and Rice Cabbage Rolls)

Name: Lahana (Syrian Meat and Rice Cabbage Rolls)
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Syrian
Ingredients: 1 large head of cabbage; 2 pounds lean ground beef; 2 cups white rice; 2 six ounce cans tomato paste; 2 tsp salt; 1 cup water; 2 Tbsp Allspice; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 eight ounce cans tomato sauce; 2/3 cup lemon juice (you can add more or less as desired); 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses; 3 sprigs fresh mint, or 2 tsp dried mint; Water as needed

Syrian cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice.

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 1 hour

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 large head of cabbage
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 cups white rice
2 six ounce cans tomato paste
2 tsp salt
1 cup water
2 Tbsp Allspice
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 eight ounce cans tomato sauce
2/3 cup lemon juice (you can add more or less as desired)
1/2 cup pomegranate molasses
3 sprigs fresh mint, or 2 tsp dried mint
Water as needed

Instructions

In a large pot on the stove, fill with water about half way and bring to a boil.
Cut four 1 inch slits in the bottom of the cabbage around the stem
Place the cabbage in the pot with boiling water and remove the leaves one by one using tongs.
Set aside for later use. Save the core of the cabbage as well.
Mix together the ground beef, rice, tomato paste, salt, water, allspice, and black pepper by hand in a large bowl until everything is combined well.
Using a large cutting board lay out an individual cabbage leaf and trim out the thick core vein. Save the veins for later.
Place a few tablespoons of the meat and rice mixture inside of the cabbage leaf. This can be adjusted based on the size of the cabbage leaf, and you may also cut the cabbage leaf in half if it is quite large.
Roll the rice and meat mixture up inside of the roll. There is no need to tuck the ends in, simply place the meat and rice in the middle and roll it up.
Continue until all of the meat mixture or cabbage leaves are used.
If you finish with extra meat and rice, make a patty of what is left and wrap it with aluminum foil. This can be cooked along with the cabbage rolls and eaten.
Place any unused cabbage leaves, the cut out cabbage veins, and any chunks of the cabbage core, in the bottom of a large pot. This is to prevent the cabbage rolls from sticking to the pot, and you only need a small layer to cover the bottom of the pot.
Place all of the cabbage rolls in the large pot on top of the cabbage layer.
In a large bowl whisk together the tomato sauce, lemon juice, and pomegranate molasses. Pour into the large pot over top of the cabbage rolls. Sprinkle the mint leaves on top.
Place the foil packet on top of the rolls if you have one.
Add water to the pot unti the rolls are just covered. I like to use the tomato sauce cans to add the water.
Place a few small plates on top of the rolls, inside the pot. This will prevent the rolls from coming undone while they boil. Be sure not to use plastic plates as these will melt!
Cover the pot and bring to a boil.
Simmer for at least 40-45 minutes or up to an hour.
Remove the pot from the heat and wait 15 to 20 minutes.
Enjoy your delicious Lahana meal!

Notes

Cabbage rolls are best served with some of the cooking liquid over top.

The lahana can easily be frozen for a quick meal at a later date.
Pomegranate Molasses can be found in any Middle Eastern grocery store.
Fresh mint leaves make a beautiful garnish for this dish.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 675mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 3gSugar: 15gProtein: 24g

Nutrition Information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix and may not always be accurate.