Concept

This dish replaces seaweed with blanched cabbage, rice with plain steamed rice, and raw fillings with a baked, creamy chicken mixture. It’s rolled like sushi but behaves more like a warm, savory wrap.

Form is borrowed; substance is local.

Ingredients (makes ~6–8 rolls) For the cabbage wrap

1 head green cabbage Water + salt (for blanching)

For the chicken filling

• 1 large chicken breast, cooked and finely chopped or shredded
  (boiled, pan-seared, or baked beforehand)
• ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 small tomato, finely diced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
• 3–4 tbsp mayonnaise Salt & black pepper, to taste

For the rice

1 cup white rice, cooked normally
(no vinegar, no sugar — keep it neutral)

Preparation 1. Prepare the cabbage wraps

Carefully separate whole cabbage leaves. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the leaves for 3 minutes, until pliable but not mushy. Remove and drain. Trim off any thick center stem so the leaves roll easily.

Aphorism: A wrap must bend without breaking.

2. Make the chicken filling

Preheat oven to 200°C while preparing ingredients. In a bowl, combine:

Chicken Mozzarella Cheddar Tomato Onion Garlic Boiled egg Mayonnaise

Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Reduce oven to 180°C and bake for 20 minutes, until:

Cheese is melted Filling is hot and cohesive

Remove and let cool slightly so it firms up.

Aphorism: Heat transforms ingredients; cooling gives them discipline.

3. Cook the rice

Cook rice separately as usual. Let it cool slightly so it doesn’t steam the cabbage during rolling.

Assembly (the “sushi” step)

Lay one blanched cabbage leaf flat. Add a strip of cheesy chicken filling near the base. Add a thin layer of rice on top of the chicken. Roll tightly like sushi or lumpia:

Fold the sides in Roll forward firmly

Slice in half if desired, or serve whole.

Serving notes

Serve warm or room temperature. Optional dipping sauces:

Calamansi + soy Banana ketchup + mayo Plain chili oil

Fusion works when function comes first.

What this recipe is

Protein-forward Comfort food Filipino logic with Japanese geometry

What it is not

Traditional sushi Diet food Trying to impress purists