Baby, some recipes come with stories. This one comes with 5 generations of Cajun Nanas who had kids to feed and not much money.
Nana found “Meal in 1 Cabbage” in an old church cookbook. No author. Just typed on yellowed paper. That’s how you know it’s old. That’s how you know it works.
One small cabbage. 1 lb ground beef. 1/4 cup raw rice. Canned tomatoes. Onions. Salt. Pepper. Bake 90 minutes. That’s it. Feeds 6-8. Costs under $10.
Papa Nick grew up on this. His Mama made it when deer season was good and used venison. When money was tight, she stretched 1 lb beef to feed 8 kids. When cabbage was 10 cents a head, this was supper twice a week.
Nana calls it “lazy cabbage rolls.” No boiling. No rolling. No mess. Just wedge, dump, bake. The cabbage steams tender. The rice cooks in tomato juice. The meat makes gravy. It’s a whole meal in one pan.
5 generations can’t be wrong.
Let’s feed some babies.
Why This Meal in 1 Cabbage Survived 5 Generations
`1. No Rolling: Real stuffed cabbage takes 2 hours. This takes 10 min prep. Nanas were busy. You’re busy.*
`2. 1/4 Cup Rice Feeds 8: Depression math. Rice swells. Cabbage bulks. Tomato makes gravy. 1 lb meat feeds a crowd.
`3. Any Meat Works: Ground beef, venison, pork, turkey, sausage, nutria. Nana’s used ‘em all. If it grinds, it works.
`4. One Pot: Cabbage goes in raw. Rice goes in raw. Meat goes in raw. Oven does the work. Nana could hang laundry while it baked.
`5. Better Next Day: Like all cabbage dishes. Flavors marry. Nana makes double. Eats it for lunch all week.
Nana’s Meal in 1 Cabbage Recipe
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 40 minutes
YIELD: 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 small head green cabbage, about 2 lbs – cored, cut in 6-8 wedges
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped – about 1 large
- 1 lb ground beef – 80/20. Or venison, pork, turkey, Italian sausage
- 1/4 cup raw long grain white rice – NOT instant
- 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes – or 1 can 14.5 oz + juice
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 tsp salt – Nana uses 1 tsp + 2 tsp Tony’s
- 1/3 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp butter – for greasing dish
INSTRUCTIONS – NANA’S WAY:
Step 1: Wedge + Grease
Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9x13 casserole or big cast iron skillet. Core 1 small cabbage. Cut in 6 or 8 wedges. Arrange in pan in rows.
Step 2: Stuff The Cracks
Crumble 1 lb raw ground beef between cabbage wedges. Don’t pre-cook. Sprinkle 1 cup chopped onion over beef. Sprinkle 1/4 cup RAW rice evenly over everything. Yes, raw. It cooks in the juice. Trust Nana.
Step 3: Tomato Bath
In bowl: Mix 2 cups canned tomatoes + 1 cup hot water + 2 tsp salt + 1/3 tsp pepper. Nana adds 2 tsp Tony Chachere’s here. Pour ALL over cabbage. Liquid should come halfway up cabbage. Rice MUST be covered or it won’t cook.
Step 4: Cover + Bake Low & Slow
Cover tight with foil or lid. Bake 350° for 1 hour 30 minutes. No peeking. After 90 min, check: Cabbage should be tender, rice soft, meat no pink. If rice is hard, add 1/4 cup hot water, cover, bake 15 min more.
Step 5: Rest + Serve
Let sit 10 minutes uncovered. Juices thicken. Serve wedge of cabbage + scoop of meat/rice/tomato gravy. Hot sauce for Pawpaw. Cornbread for Nana.
Nana’s Cabbage Rules + Fixes
Rice is crunchy
Wasn’t covered with liquid. Next time: push rice under tomato juice. Fix now: add 1/2 cup hot water, cover, bake 20 min.
Cabbage tough
Old cabbage or not enough time. Bake 30 min longer. Next time: buy smaller, tighter head.
Watery
Cabbage releases water. Uncover last 15 min to reduce. Or use less hot water – 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup.
Bland
You used 2 tsp salt only. Nana used Tony’s. Add 2 tsp Tony Chachere’s to tomato mix. Taste the juice before baking.
What meat works?
Ground beef, venison, pork, turkey, Italian sausage, ground nutria. If it browns, it works. Drain if using fatty pork.
Can I add garlic?
Nana adds 3 cloves minced. You do you.
What Nana Serves With Meal in 1 Cabbage
*1. Cornbread:* Hot skillet cornbread to soak up tomato gravy.
2. Nothing Else: This IS the meal. Meat, veg, starch, gravy. Nana fed 8 kids with this pan.
*3. Pepper Vinegar:* Splash over cabbage. Cuts the rich. Nana keeps a bottle on table. More on Pepper Vinegar HERE
4. Fried Pork Chops: If Pawpaw’s really hungry. But Nana says that’s showing off.
*From Nana’s Kitchen:* No name on this recipe. Just “Meal in 1 Cabbage.” That’s how you know 5 generations of Nanas made it. They didn’t sign it. They just fed babies.
This is Cajun survival food. This is love in a casserole dish. This is what Nanas do.
`Tell Nana: What meats does your family use? Ground deer? Turkey? You add Tony’s or stay salt/pepper only? Tag @NanaTeesCajunHome – Nana wants to see your cabbage!
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