Barley-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Prep: 15 min Cook: 70 min Serves: 4 Cuisine: Mediterranean

A hearty and flavorful dish featuring tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a savory barley, spinach, and cheese filling, perfect for comforting family dinners or special occasions.

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Ingredients

  • 8 large cabbage leaves
  • boiling water
  • 1/2 cup barley
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon safflower oil
  • 1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
  • 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg
  • dash pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Place cabbage leaves in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside.
  2. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  3. Stir barley into boiling water, cover, and simmer about 1 hour or until tender, stirring occasionally.
  4. Drain the cooked barley and set aside.
  5. Cook chopped onion and minced garlic in safflower oil in a skillet until tender.
  6. Add thawed and well-drained chopped spinach to the skillet and cook and stir for 1 minute.
  7. Drain the cabbage leaves.
  8. Mix cooked barley with the sautéed spinach mixture, shredded Cheddar cheese, egg, and a dash of pepper.
  9. Place a spoonful of the filling onto each cabbage leaf and roll up to enclose the filling.
  10. In a small saucepan, combine water, tomato paste, chicken bouillon cubes, and lemon juice, and bring to a boil.
  11. Pour the tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls in a baking dish.
  12. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.

Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)

763 kcal 38% DV
Protein Fat Carbs

Macronutrients

Protein 25.3g 51% DV
Total Fat 41g 53% DV
Carbs 77.7g 28% DV
Fiber 6.2g 22% DV
Sugar 6.4g 13% DV

Electrolytes

Sodium 729.8mg 32% DV
Potassium 968mg 21% DV
Cholesterol 94.3mg 31% DV

Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin A 186.3mcg 21% DV
Vitamin C 41mg 46% DV
Vitamin D 0.2mcg 1% DV
Calcium 538mg 41% DV
Iron 4.5mg 25% DV
Diet fit High-protein High-fiber
Contains Milk Egg Wheat/Gluten

Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.

* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).

Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).

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