Here’s a classic, comforting recipe for cabbage rolls—tender leaves stuffed with a savory meat and rice filling, simmered in a rich tomato sauce.
🥬 Cabbage Rolls Recipe (Stuffed Cabbage)
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the rolls:
- 1 large green cabbage
- 500g ground beef (or beef + chicken mix)
- 1/2 cup uncooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
For the sauce:
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon oil or butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar (balances acidity)
- Salt and pepper to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Carefully remove the core of the cabbage and place the whole head in boiling water.
- As leaves soften, peel them off gently (you’ll need about 10–12 large leaves).
2. Make the filling
- In a bowl, mix:
- Ground meat
- Rice
- Onion, garlic
- Egg
- Salt, pepper, paprika
3. Roll them up
- Place a portion of filling on each cabbage leaf.
- Fold in the sides and roll tightly like a parcel.
4. Cook
- Place rolls seam-side down in a pot.
- Pour sauce over them.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 45–60 minutes until cooked through and tender.
🍽️ Serve with:
- Yogurt or sour cream
- Fresh bread or rice
💡 Tips:
- For extra flavor, layer some leftover cabbage leaves at the bottom of the pot.
- You can also bake them in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 1 hour.
If you want, I can share a quick lazy version (no rolling needed) or a vegetarian cabbage rolls recipe.
