Fish and Couscous Stuffed Mediterranean Cabbage Rolls

Name: Fish and Couscous Stuffed Mediterranean Cabbage Rolls
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 10-12 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 medium head of cabbage (blanched); toothpick; 1 lb steamed fish, flaked; 1 1/2 cups cooked couscous; 1 celery rib, fine diced; 1/2 cup red bell pepper, fine diced; 1/2 cup green pepper, fine diced; 1/2 cup scallion, fine diced; 1/2 cup black olives, fine diced; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 1 egg, beaten well; 1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning (or you can use my recipe below); 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes; 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce; 1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts, quartered drained; 1 large onion, cut in quarters and thin sliced; 1 cup white wine; 1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning, you can add a bit more if you like (I use McCormick's, but there are other brands available); 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 cup black olives, halved

Submitted by SarasotaCook

"An interesting twist on stuffed cabbage rolls which I happen to love. Last year on vacation, it was the last day and trying to use up all our food; a box of couscous, tilapia, cabbage, and a few pantry items, and the dish was born. Now I have refined it a bit, but over all, this was it. It turned out so good, I make it all the time. Tender white fish, couscous, Mediterranean flavors and vegetables wrapped in cabbage with a rich artichoke and tomato sauce. Just like any cabbage rolls, it takes a little bit of work to wrap them all up, but 30 minutes baked in the oven and they are perfect. Serve with a creamy potato and parsnip soup to start off dinner, and crunchy bread to go along with the cabbage rolls and you have a great Sunday dinner."

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Ready In:: 1hr 40mins
Ingredients:: 24
Serves:: 10-12

ingredients

1 medium head of cabbage (blanched)
toothpick
Filling
1 lb steamed fish, flaked
1 ¹⁄₂ cups cooked couscous
1 celery rib, fine diced
¹⁄₂ cup red bell pepper, fine diced
¹⁄₂ cup green pepper, fine diced
¹⁄₂ cup scallion, fine diced
¹⁄₂ cup black olives, fine diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 egg, beaten well
1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning (or you can use my recipe below)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts, quartered drained
1 large onion, cut in quarters and thin sliced
1 cup white wine
1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning, you can add a bit more if you like (I use McCormick's, but there are other brands available)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
Garnish
1 cup black olives, halved

directions

Homemade Greek Seasoning -- You can make a batch of this up and put in a small spice jar. Once you try this, you will always keep some on hand.: 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic. Options, you can add some lemon pepper, or marjoram, but that is my favorite combination that I use.
Cabbage -- In a large pot, bring salted water up to a boil and add the cabbage. Blanch, or cook the cabbage just until the leaves are tender or no longer stiff and easy to work work. It should take about 3-4 minutes. Now don't get rid of that water, just turn it off for now. Once the cabbage is cool enough to handle remove the outer leaves, the ones that are soft and no longer stiff. As you get in to the smaller leaves they will be stiffer, so heat up the water to a boil and put the cabbage back in to finish blanching the remaining cabbage, just another 2-3 minutes. Once cool, take off the leaves.
Set all the leaves off to the side to cool. And don't worry if they are all different sizes, that is just the way stuffed cabbage is. Each stuffed leaf will be a bit different.
NOTE: Don't throw that water out yet. We use it one more time.
Fish -- Now you can use a variety of methods, but since you already have hot boiling water from the cabbage, why get rid of it. I simply put a steamer basket (or you can use a colander or even a strainer; I have even used a small grate) over the top, cut my fish fillets into 3" pieces, easier to work with, and add to the steamer basket. Put a lid or foil over the top and just cooked until slightly tender, but not too long. Usually 4-5 minutes is all you need. Remove and let cool.
Couscous -- Now you can use your favorite brand. Simply follow the directions on the package. My method is to bring a bowl of water up to a boil in the microwave. Remove, add the couscous, cover with plastic wrap and you are done. You want approximately 1 1/2 cups cooked couscous, a little more or less is fine. Just set to the side.
Vegetable Filling -- In a medium saute pan, heat to medium high and add the olive oil. Add the peppers, onion, celery, and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion gets opaque. Then add in the scallions, parsley, Greek seasoning and olives and just stir to combine all the flavors. Remove to the side.
Fish filling -- Take you fish and use your fork to flake the fish. I just roughly flake it, it will fall apart as you mix it with the other ingredients. To the couscous, just remove the plastic wrap or fork to "fluff up." Then add the fish, sauteed vegetables, lemon juice and zest, and the egg to the couscous. Mix well. Your filling is done.
Sauce -- The sauce can simmer as you roll your cabbage leaves. In a medium to large pot bring to medium heat and add the olive oil and then the onions and garlic. Cook for just 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and then add in the tomatoes and Greek seasoning. Stir well and then add in the artichoke hearts. Just reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
Rolls -- Now the fun part. Lay out the cabbage leaves and put a good spoon of the couscous mixture to the center of the leaf. I fold one end over (the smaller end), then tuck in the 2 sides, and finish rolling. Just like you would make a sandwich wrap. Secure with a toothpick and you are done.
If you have any filling left, don't throw it out. Save it and reinvent it. Add some feta cheese and fresh tomatoes and serve as a cold salad over a bed of lettuce or stuff in a tomato for a quick healthy lunch or dinner.
Casserole -- I like to bake mine in a large casserole dish, I add all the cabbage leaves and then top with the simmered tomato and artichoke sauce. In a 350 degree oven, cover and bake 30-40 minutes until the cabbage is very tender and all the filling reheats.
Serve -- Make sure to serve 2-3 leaves per person and top with extra tomato sauce and the black olives as a garnish. Some crusty bread and you have a great dinner. I love to start with a bowl of creamy potato soup, I made earlier, so just reheat. It makes a nice Sunday Comfort Food Meal for a cold chilly day.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

SarasotaCook

Sarasota, Florida

Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.

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