Cabbage Tamales - Unrolled

I remember going to my husband's parent's home for dinner and walking in to the smell of cooked cabbage and garlic.  Wow, what memories.  His mom, Cleo, made the most wonderful little morsels and called them Cabbage Tamales.  They were such a family favorite and she labored for hours to roll them and she cooked them all day.  They were devoured so quickly.  It seemed like there were never enough.  Well, I made them and first of all, they were a lot of work and second, my boys didn't like them.  So, now, after years of thinking about those little morsels, I made them again.  Well, they are still  a lot of work so I came up with this recipe that is so much easier and quicker.  It may not be those little tamales that were loved so much but it is the flavor and that wonderful aroma fills the house with memories.  Sorry, Mom Cleo, you would love this shortcut casserole, or maybe not.

Try my shortcut casserole recipe and see what you think.  Of course, you have to like cooked cabbage, garlic and tomatoes.  The leftovers are so good, maybe better than the first overs.

                  Cabbage Tamales Unwrapped

1 lb. lean Ground Beef

3/4 cup uncooked White Rice

1 clove Garlic, chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Cooking Spray

1 small head Cabbage, chopped into 1” pieces

4 cloves Garlic, sliced thin

1 large (46 oz.) can Tomato Juice (or try V-8)

In a med. mixing bowl, combine the Ground Beef, uncooked Rice, chopped Garlic and Salt and Black Pepper.  I use my hands to do this and then I form the mixture into small meatballs, about 1” in diameter.

Spray a large casserole dish with Cooking Spray.  Put a layer of chopped Cabbage into casserole dish.  Sprinkle a layer of thin sliced Garlic over the Cabbage.  Lay the meat and rice meatballs on top and add the last of the chopped Cabbage.  Now pour the Tomato Juice over the top.

Cover the entire casserole with a lid or foil.  Bake in 350˚ oven for 1 hour.  Remove the foil and continue baking for another 1/2 hour.  You want the rice and cabbage done and not too much juice.  Serve with toasted garlic bread.  This casserole is very good as leftovers.   

Serves 6