Description
Cozy homemade stuffed cabbage rolls wrapped around a hearty filling and simmered in a rich, savory tomato sauce. This easy recipe delivers nostalgic comfort with tender cabbage and flavorful meat and rice filling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or half beef, half pork for extra flavor)
- 1/2 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 large green cabbage
- Water for blanching
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Core the cabbage and gently separate 12-16 large leaves. Blanch the leaves in boiling water for about 2 minutes until pliable but not mushy. Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.
- In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, rinsed rice, chopped onion, garlic, beaten egg, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and parsley. Mix gently until just combined.
- Lay a cabbage leaf flat and trim out the thick vein if it’s too stiff. Place about 2 tablespoons of filling near the base of the leaf. Fold in the sides, then roll up tightly like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Nestle the stuffed cabbage rolls seam side down into the tomato sauce. Spoon more sauce over the top. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45-50 minutes, or until the rice and meat are cooked through and the cabbage is tender. Add a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much.
- Carefully transfer the rolls to plates, spoon extra tomato sauce over them, and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Blanch cabbage leaves to prevent tearing and make rolling easier. Mix filling gently to avoid tough texture. Simmer covered on low heat to meld flavors without drying out. Add water if sauce thickens too much. Rolls can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen for later use.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 stuffed cabbage ro
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
Keywords: stuffed cabbage rolls, cabbage rolls recipe, homemade stuffed cabbage, savory tomato sauce, comfort food, easy dinner, family meal