Skillet Cajun Cabbage and Rice

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (you can also omit the oil to make this dish fat-free by sauteing using small amount of water)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10 ounce) can Rotelle (diced tomatoes
with mild green chilies), un-drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup long grain rice, uncooked
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 cup water
1 head Napa cabbage, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oil (or simply use water if making the recipe without fat) in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Sautee green pepper, onion, and garlic until the vegetables have softened, about 8 minutes.

2. Stir in Rotelle, tomato sauce, rice, salt, basil, oregano, the cayenne, white pepper, black pepper (adding more pepper to taste, if desired) and 1/3 cup of water; heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is gently simmering. Sprinkle chopped cabbage on top without stirring, turn heat to medium-low (you do not want the tomato sauce to burn) and cover tightly with a lid (if the cabbage is too high, smoosh a little with the lid until closed; the cabbage will cook down).

3. Cook 15 minutes, then remove lid and stir (make sure to get browned bits off bottom). If mixture looks to thick, add a little more water. Cover and cook another 5 minutes or until rice is soft and cooked-through. Stir one last time, and serve immediately!

Makes 6-8 servings depending on portion size.