As a broke college student trying to save money, going to restaurants for dates and anniversary can be rough for the wallet and budget! But recently, my boyfriend made a healthy meal for our anniversary, which I paired it with some red wine. If you’re looking for an affordable and tasty meal for a special occasion, check out these cabbage wraps!
Estimated Time: 20 min prep and 1 to 1.5 hours cooking
Ingredients:
- 100g ground beef
- 2 cups of rice
- 3 tomatoes
- Half an onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1/2 or whole cabbage (Nappa or regular)
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons pepper
- 1 tablespoon MSG
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons oregano or fresh thyme
- Slow cooker or pot (you just need steam)
Instructions
1. Prep the rice and vegetables: Wash your rice and place it in a large mixing bowl. Then, dice the onion and tomatoes into small cubes and mince the garlic into fine bits.
2. Prepare the cabbage leaves: Peel off individual cabbage leaves, wash them thoroughly, then soak them in cold water to soften slightly and keep them pliable for wrapping.
3. Make the filling: Add the ground beef, diced onion, tomatoes, and minced garlic into the bowl of rice. Season with salt, pepper, MSG, fish sauce, and oregano or fresh thyme. Mix everything together well, then cover and let the filling rest in the fridge for up to 15 minutes.
4. Wrap it up: Take a cabbage leaf and place a scoop of filling at the firm end. Use that harder base as your starting anchor, then fold the softer parts of the leaf up and around the filling, rolling it closed like a small bundle.
5. Cook the wraps: You have two options: place all the wraps in a rice cooker and run the standard white rice function, or arrange them snugly in a pot on low heat and let them slow-cook for 1 to 1.5 hours. The natural juices from the tomatoes and cabbage create all the steam needed, so you don’t need to add water. As the wraps cook, the cabbage softens and melds into the filling, the beef juices add richness to the outer leaves, and a light, flavorful soup base forms at the bottom of the pot.
Now you can enjoy your wraps without having exerted any effort. You have plenty of time to arrange the table, pour a second glass of wine, and enjoy the evening since the slow cooker handles all the heavy lifting. This is an easy, filling, and healthy meal that makes staying at home worth it!
Photo by Karolina Kołodziejczak on Unsplash
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Love this date‑night cabbage wraps idea from the Read Unwritten recipe – simple, cozy, and perfect for a shared dinner at home. If you’re looking to switch things up afterward or want an easy dinner out sometime, you should also check out Poke Bowl NY Seaport for fresh, customizable Hawaiian‑style poke bowls that strike the perfect balance of light and flavorful. Their bowls are great for a laid‑back couple’s dinner after trying this recipe at home https://pokebowlny.com/locations/seaport/
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