Cabbage Rice & Beans

This recipe is from the book The Ikaria Way. Lahanorizo, or cabbage rice, is one of the simplest Greek dishes, something to make on chilly winter weeknights when cabbage is in season. Keep in mind that the recipe has quite a few ingredients, but if you don’t have all of them, don’t sweat it! This dish will turn out delicious either way.

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5 Ingredients or Less
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15 minutes or less
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Cabbage Rice & Beans
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Cabbage Rice & Beans
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large leek, trimmed, washed, and chopped
  • 1 large red onion, chopped
  • 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cabbage head (about a pound), trimmed and coarsely shredded
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2/3 cup rice
  • 2/3 cup white wine
  • 2 to 4 cups vegetable stock or broth, as needed
  • 1 cup cooked cannellini beans
  • Salt and pepper
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 small bunch parsley, leaves only, chopped
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DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large wide pot over medium heat and cook the leek and onion until soft, lightly colored, about 8 minutes, stirring.
  2. Stir in the finely chopped celery and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, until softened.
  3. Add the garlic, give it a swirl, and then add the coarsely shredded cabbage, in batches if necessary, until it loses volume and all of it is in the pan.
  4. Cover and steam in its own juices for 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Stir in the paprika, then stir in the tomato paste. Cook all together, stirring, for a minute or so.
  6. Add the rice, stir it into the vegetables, and then add 2/3 cup wine. Once it begins to cook off and steam up, add 1 cup of vegetable stock.
  7. Lower the heat and simmer, adding more stock as needed, in 1/2-cup increments, until the rice is tender and the mixture creamy.
  8. Stir in the beans and leave for 10 more minutes. Then, remove from heat.
  9. Season to taste with salt and pepper, add the lemon zest and parsley, and serve.
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DID YOU KNOW?

Cannellini beans are a great source of protein, and they’re super budget friendly! Most grocery stores sell a can for just one or two dollars.

Recipe adapted from The Ikaria Way: 100 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes Inspired by My Homeland, the Greek Island of Longevity, by Diane Kochilas.

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