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Kalpudding (Meatloaf With Caramelized Cabbage)

Kalpudding (Meatloaf With Caramelized Cabbage)
Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times. Food stylist: Hadas Smirnoff. Prop stylist: Rebecca Bartoshesky.
Total Time
90 minutes
Rating
4(2,489)
Comments
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This Swedish version of a dish with roots in the Ottoman Empire is served here with lingonberry preserves cut with vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, and made velvet with butter. The dish goes beautifully with boiled potatoes. In Sweden, you’d use golden syrup to caramelize the cabbage, but molasses works just as well. The Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson told me the result is no less Nordic for the substitution. “Cabbage smells in a very special way when it almost burns,” he said. “It gets savory, almost like a beef stock. It tastes almost brown and umami yummy.” You’ll want to eat it right away, but the leftovers make for a fine sandwich in coming days. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

    For the Meatloaf

    • 2tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
    • 1head green cabbage, approximately 3 pounds, cored and shredded
    • 3tablespoons molasses
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
    • ¾pound ground beef
    • ¾pound ground pork
    • 1small yellow onion, peeled and chopped
    • 1cup heavy cream
    • 4tablespoons breadcrumbs
    • cup chicken, beef or vegetable stock, ideally homemade or low-sodium store-bought (or water)

    For the Sauce

    • cup lingonberry preserves
    • 1tablespoon red-wine vinegar
    • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

946 calories; 67 grams fat; 33 grams saturated fat; 2 grams trans fat; 24 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 54 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 35 grams protein; 1332 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 350. Put a large pan over medium-high heat, and add the butter. When it starts to foam, add the cabbage and molasses, lower the heat to medium and sprinkle with salt. Cook slowly, stirringoften, until all the liquid has evaporated and the cabbage is caramelized, approximately 20-25 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    While the cabbage is cooking, lightly mix the meats in a large bowl, then add the onion, cream and breadcrumbs, and mix again to combine.

  3. Step 3

    When the cabbage is done, add about a third of it to the meat mixture, and mix to combine. Use the remaining butter to grease an 8-inch-square baking pan, and transfer the meat mixture to it, spreading it out to cover the whole surface evenly. Spread remaining cabbage over the meat, pour the stock or water over the top and place in the oven, on a sheet tray, to cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, or until the cabbage is very, very caramelized, almost dry and crunchy at the edges. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes or so before serving.

  4. Step 4

    While the meat and cabbage cooks, make the sauce. Heat lingonberry preserves, vinegar and butter in a small pot set over medium heat, then add Worcestershire sauce to taste. Serve alongside the kalpudding.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,489 user ratings
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Comments

You can see in the picture above, it's when the cabbage is colored dark golden at the lightest, with lots of parts where it's dark brown, the color of chocolate. I haven't made this recipe (yet!) but I've found that the trick to even caramelization is to have the heat at just medium-high and cook patiently, because if you turn the heat up too high you'll burn some parts before the others are dark enough. I hope this helps!

Sometimes I feel like such a neophyte. How do you tell when the cabbage is "carmelized"? Not to mention "very, very carmelized".

High fives to all ya'll who gave thoughtful answers to this question. It is much appreciated in this age of snarky cooking comments and makes me smile so hard . . .

Happy cooking!

The recipe calls for freshly ground pepper without saying when to add it. I ground some into the cabbage.

This is surprisingly good. Used maple syrup in the cabbage and blueberry jam in the meat because that's what I had. Didn't need the sauce.

Onions are amazing. Followed other commenters' suggestion to use maple syrup instead of molasses. Will keep in repertoire as side dish. Made meatloaf with 85% lean ground turkey (can't have red meat). Heavy cream was too rich with this swap. Next time will keep the turkey, reduce heavy cream by half, and maybe use light cream instead of heavy cream.

@KR and by onions, I meant cabbage!!

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