In this recipe, pork and shrimp stuffed cabbage rolls are simmered in bone broth flavored with lemongrass, garlic, galangal, chilies and freshly squeezed lime juice. Delightfully refreshing! And filling too.
In a bowl, mix together the ground pork, shrimps, chopped carrot, scallions and shiitake mushrooms with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Prepare the cabbage and scallions
Place the cabbage on a cutting board.
Using a small pointed knife, cut around the core in the shape of a cone. Keep going until the core is loose. Pull it out and discard.
Drop the cabbage into the boiling water, cored side down, and let the water come to a rolling boil once more.
Lower the heat, cover the pan and cook the cabbage for about 10 minutes.
Scoop out the cabbage and dump in a bowl of iced water. When cool, place in a strainer, cored side up, and allow to drip for a few minutes.
Carefully loosen the cabbage leaves to separate.
Take one cabbage leaf and, using a sharp knife, shave off the thick portion that runs vertically in the middle of the leaf. Be careful not to shave too deep to avoid tearing the cabbage. Do this with all the cabbage leaves.
The too small ones near the core, you may chop finely and mix into the filling. But that's entirely optional.
Plunge the whole scallions in boiling water for a minute then hang on the edge of the strainer where you're draining the cabbage.
Assemble the cabbage rolls
Lay a trimmed cabbage leaf on your work surface. Position it so that the thicker side is pointing towards you.
Place a heaping tablespoon of filling near the center.
Fold the thick side of the cabbage leaf over the filling. Then, fold in the left and right sides. Roll the cabbage leaf away from you to seal in the filling.
Take one piece of softened scallion and use it to tie the cabbage roll like a parcel.
Repeat until all the cabbage leaves have been filled and tied.
Cook the cabbage rolls
Pour the bone broth into a pot. Add the lemongrass, garlic, galangal and chilies. Bring to the boil. Taste. Add fish sauce, as needed.
Drop the cabbage rolls one by one into the hot broth.
When the broth begins to simmer, set the heat to low, cover the pan and cook the cabbage rolls in the bone broth for 20 to 30 minutes.
Serve the cabbage rolls
Scoop out the cabbage rolls and place in soup bowls.
Strain the broth. Stir in the lime juice. Taste and add more fish sauce, if needed.
Pour hot broth over the cabbage rolls.
Garnish the Thai cabbage rolls soup with torn cilantro and lime wedges before serving.
Notes
Updated from a recipe originally published in October 5, 2017