Hello Lovelies, so here it comes, the most important dish of the day and the star of the dinner: the main dish (okay for some people dessert is more important:-). While I was doing some research on the internet looking for Christmas menu ideas I found lots of vegan roasts, with nuts or lentils or ideas with puff pastry. Lot of them really sounded delicious, but there have been lots of recipes already. So I wanted to do something else. I already had an idea with Savoy cabbage in my head for a long time, so I decided I had to use it.

Thats how I came up with the idea to make Savoy cabbage rolls. With a sophisticated filling with black rice, mushrooms and chestnuts. Served with a creamy white wine and mushroom sauce and oven roasted maple glazed Brussel sprouts with cranberries and hazelnuts. Do you need to her more? veganer Weihnachtsmenü

Cook the rice according to the instructions on the package
Remove the hard stem from the savoy cabbage leaves
Blanch them in salted water for 3-4 minutes (or in a steamer) and put them in cold water
Chop the shallots and fry them in olive oil until glassy
Chop the mushrooms and chestnuts and add to the shallots
Fry for another 5 minutes and then deglaze with the white wine
Let simmer for another 5 minutes
Add the rice - mix well and add the cream and season to taste with the spices
Add 1-2 Tbsp of the filling to a Savoy cabbage leave and roll them into packages
Cook in a steamer for 30 minutes or if you don't have one, you can cook them in a pan as well
Just add some oil to a pan and roast the packages for 3-5 minutes, than add ca. 300 ml water with bouillon
Let simmer for 20-25 min with a closed lid
If you prepare the rolls in a steamer you can also quickly roast them in some oil for some extra fine roast aromas - but it's optional

Brussel Sprouts:

Preheat the oven to 200 C degree
Wash the Brussel Sprouts and cut them in half
Also cut the hazelnuts and cranberries in half
Mix all the ingredients, add to a ovenproof dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until brown and crispy

Mushroom sauce:

Wash the mushrooms and cut in slices
Chop the shallot and fry in olive oil until glassy
Add the mushrooms and fry for another 5 minutes
Deglaze with white wine
Add the cream and the lemon juice and let simmer for 5 minutes (if the sauce is too thin you can add 1 Tsp starch mixed with cold water)
Season to taste with freshly chopped thyme and parsley, salt and pepper
Serve with the save cabbage rolls and the Brussels sprouts
A light white wine would be a perfect match for the dish

Christmas Menu Part 3 - Savoy cabbage rolls with black rice

Everyone really liked the dish and even Daddy Frei who usually isn't too enthusiastic about Brussel sprouts loved it this way (even though he is not happy to admit it ;-). I'm pretty sure that these rolls are perfect for a family dinner and can convince meat lovers as well. We will enjoy it again on Christmas for sure. And if you can't find black rice, then just use any other kind or even bulgur or quinoa would be a perfect fit.

Do you already know what you are serving on Christmas Eve? Do you have a special tradition in your family or are you open and happy to try new things every year? I would be super happy of course if some of you try the cabbage rolls.

You can find the other Christmas menu ideas here.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones and thank you so for all your support.

Love Verena

Christmas Menu Part 3 - Savoy cabbage rolls with black rice