Quinoa Cabbage Cups with Tomato Jam


Cabbage cups!

Cabbage, with stuff inside.


You bake it in a muffin tin, you stuff it with stuff that you like.

My husband was inspired by it.


What about taco cabbage cups?  What about putting kim chi inside?

Honey, I think you are onto something.


These have chick peas and quinoa, plus raisins for a surprising burst of sweet between the onions and red bell peppers.

And easy.  Hello!  Sold.


Plus tomato jam!  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  It's not sweet, and it's not for the faint of heart.  It's like a strong marinara, times a million. 

Tasty.

Quinoa Cabbage Cups with Tomato Jam (adapted from Living Without)
Serves 6



For the jam:
6 tomatoes
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground paprika (I used smoked for some spice)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, optional

For the cabbage cups:
½ cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup water or broth
2 teaspoons canola oil or grape seed oil
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas
⅓ cup raisins
Juice of ½ lemon
1 teaspoon thyme
¼ teaspoon salt
12 green cabbage leaves

The following steps can and should be done simultaneously.  Like, not all at once, but while one thing is sitting for 10 minutes get started on the next.  No need to wait until the jam is done to start everything else, for example.

To make Tomato Jam, slice a shallow X into the bottom of each tomato using a sharp knife. Fill a medium saucepan about halfway with water and bring to a boil. Drop tomatoes into boiling water for about 15 seconds and remove with a slotted spoon. When cool enough to handle, peel back the skin from the tomatoes starting at the points created by the X. Slice in half and chop the tomatoes.

Mix together tomatoes and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring often. Stir in cider vinegar, paprika, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce, if using. Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.

To make Cabbage Cups, place quinoa in a small saucepan along with 1 cup water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 12 minutes or until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. Remove pan from heat.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add red pepper and garlic and cook 2 minutes. Stir in quinoa, chickpeas, raisins, lemon juice, thyme and salt. Remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 12 standard-size muffin cups with oil. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water.

In batches, blanch cabbage leaves for 1 minute to soften slightly and then plunge into the ice water bath. Drain and slice off the tough lower spine of each leaf.

Working one at a time, press cabbage leaves into prepared muffin cups, making sure a generous amount of leaf hangs over the sides. Fill each with an equal amount of quinoa mixture. Fold over tops to seal.




Place in preheated oven and bake 20 minutes, being careful not to burn the leaves. Let cool for about 5 minutes and then place a flat object, such as a cutting board, over muffin tins and invert to unmold.

Serve Cabbage Cups with Tomato Jam.  High five yourself.

6 comments:

Priya said...

If I could grab a portion right off the screen, I would have done that! The cabbage cups sound so very delightful! Love all those falvours going in and I must must try this :) Nice clicks too.

Ana Regalado said...

I haven't tried quinoa or tomato jam yet but this dish certainly looks appetizing ! The jam alone is worth making :D

Mumsfilibaba said...

wow wow and wow. This is really creative and looks amazing. Long time ago I did cabbage rolls. You inspired me to try again. The weather is still perfect for this, cold and Grey...

amlamonte said...

ha thanks priya!

amlamonte said...

the jam was amazing, anne! and there was plenty left over to put on other things...spicy and yet just slightly tomato sweet.

amlamonte said...

aw, mums! yes it's still cabbage weather here too. maybe if we start eating pea shoots it will lighten up?