Alright, listen up, y’all! We’re gonna talk about what to serve with them cabbage rolls, you know, the ones stuffed with meat and rice. My old man, he used to love them, God rest his soul. So, I learned a thing or two about what goes good with ’em. We ain’t fancy here, just good eatin’.
First off, you gotta have somethin’ starchy, somethin’ to fill ya up. Mashed potatoes, that’s the ticket. Yeah, them creamy, buttery mashed potatoes, they just soak up all that good juice from the cabbage rolls. Make a big ol’ pile of ’em, no skimpin’. Kids love ’em, grown-ups love ’em, even the dog tries to sneak a lick when you ain’t lookin’. And you know what? If you’re feelin’ lazy, the store-bought ones ain’t half bad neither. Just heat ’em up and throw in a pat of butter. Boom, done.
Now, if you ain’t in the mood for potatoes, you can always do rice. Plain white rice, nothin’ fancy. Just cooks it up nice and fluffy. It soaks up the sauce just like the potatoes, and it’s cheap too, which is always a good thing, you know what I mean? Rice is good filler, specially if you got a lot of mouths to feed. Just dump it in the pot, add some water, and let it simmer. Can’t mess that up.
- Another good side is a simple salad.
- Just some lettuce, maybe some tomatoes and cucumbers if you got ’em.
- A little bit of vinegar and oil, that’s all you need.
Nothin’ fancy, just somethin’ fresh and crunchy to cut through all that richness. My grandbaby, she likes to put a little bit of ranch dressing on hers, but I ain’t a fan. Too much stuff in it. Keep it simple, that’s my motto.
And don’t forget the bread! Gotta have somethin’ to sop up all that leftover sauce. A nice crusty loaf, that’s what I like. Tear off a hunk and dip it right in the pot. Oh, it’s heaven, I tell ya. Or you could do some rolls, if you’re feelin’ fancy. Buttermilk biscuits are good too. Anything that’s soft and fluffy and soaks up the sauce.
Now, if you’re havin’ folks over, you might wanna make somethin’ a little extra special. A nice big pot of green beans, that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Just simmer ’em with a little bit of bacon and onion, and they’re good to go. Or maybe some corn on the cob, if it’s in season. Nothin’ beats fresh corn, sweet and juicy. Just boil it up and slather it with butter. Your guests will be lickin’ their fingers, I guarantee it.
And for drinkin’, well, you can’t go wrong with iced tea. Sweet tea, of course. That’s how we do it down here. Or maybe some lemonade, if you’re feelin’ fancy. But if it’s a special occasion, and you wanna get a little wild, you could always open up a bottle of red wine. Not that fancy stuff, just somethin’ easy-drinkin’. My old man, he always liked a glass of red wine with his cabbage rolls. Said it helped him digest. Who knows if that’s true, but it sure tasted good.
Speaking of gatherings, cabbage rolls are perfect for get-togethers. You can make a big batch ahead of time and just heat ’em up when your guests arrive. That way, you ain’t stuck in the kitchen all night. You can actually sit down and enjoy yourself. And let me tell you a secret: leftovers are even better the next day. All those flavors meld together, it’s just somethin’ else. If you’re gonna make ahead, just cool them rolls down and stick ’em in the icebox. They’ll keep for a few days, no problem. Or you can freeze ’em if you wanna keep ’em longer. Just make sure you put ’em in a good container, so they don’t get all freezer-burned.
So there you have it, folks. That’s what I serve with my cabbage rolls. Nothin’ fancy, just good, hearty food that’ll fill ya up and make ya feel good. And remember, don’t be afraid to experiment. Add a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Cooking ain’t rocket science, it’s about makin’ somethin’ you enjoy. And most importantly, it’s about sharin’ it with the people you love. Now go on and get cookin’!
Oh yeah, one more thing! If you’re lookin’ for a good red wine to go with them cabbage rolls, somethin’ not too strong but not too weak neither, try a Zinfandel, Beaujolais Cru, or maybe a Rioja. Them’s good ones. Or if you can’t find them, just ask the fella at the liquor store. He’ll know what to do.
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