Hearty and comforting, these stuffed cabbage rolls are filled with a flavorful mixture of ground meat, rice, and aromatics, then simmered in a tangy tomato sauce. Perfect for a family dinner or a cozy meal on a chilly day.
Ingredients:
- For the Cabbage:
- 1 large head of cabbage (about 3-4 pounds)
- Water, for boiling
- For the Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For the Sauce:
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: additional chopped onion, bell pepper or other preferred seasonings.
Instructions:
- Prepare the Cabbage:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Core the cabbage, removing the tough inner core.
- Place the whole cabbage head in the boiling water.
- Cook for about 5-10 minutes, or until the outer leaves begin to soften and peel away easily.
- Carefully remove the cabbage from the pot and let it cool slightly.
- Peel off the softened leaves, one by one.
- If the center rib of the leaves is thick, carefully trim it with a sharp knife to make the leaves easier to roll.
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, parsley, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Assemble the Cabbage Rolls:
- Lay a cabbage leaf flat on a work surface.
- Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling in the center of the leaf.
- Fold the sides of the leaf inward, then roll from the bottom up, like a burrito, to enclose the filling.
- Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.
- Prepare the Sauce:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- If you would like to add more seasoning or texture, you can also sautee some onion or bell pepper before adding the rest of the sauce ingredients.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Cook the Cabbage Rolls:
- Carefully place the stuffed cabbage rolls into the pot of simmering sauce, seam-down.
- If necessary, add a little water or broth to the pot so that the rolls are mostly covered by the sauce.
- Bring the sauce back to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pot and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the cabbage is tender and the rice is cooked through.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve:
- Carefully remove the cabbage rolls from the pot with a slotted spoon.
- Spoon the sauce over the rolls and serve hot.
- Mashed potatoes are a very common and delicious side dish.
Tips and Variations:
- For a tangier sauce, add a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar at the end of cooking.
- You can use different ground meats, such as ground turkey or pork, or a mixture of meats.
- For a deeper flavor, you may consider browning the ground meat before mixing the filling.
- Some people enjoy adding shredded cabbage to the bottom of the pot, before putting the rolls into the pot.
- Some people add raisins to the meat filling.
Enjoy your delicious homemade stuffed cabbage rolls!