Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Here’s a classic recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls—savory, comforting, and perfect for a hearty meal. These rolls are filled with a mixture of ground meat, rice, and seasonings, then simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Ingredients (makes 6–8 rolls)

For the Cabbage Rolls:

• 1 large head of cabbage
• 1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
• 1/2 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme (optional)

For the Tomato Sauce:

• 2 cups tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
• 1/2 cup beef broth (or water)
• 2 tsp brown sugar (optional, balances acidity)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar (optional, for brightness)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cabbage

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Core the cabbage and carefully separate the leaves. Blanch the leaves in boiling water for 2–3 minutes until pliable. Drain and let cool.
3. Trim the thick vein at the base of each leaf to make rolling easier.

2. Make the Filling

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Mix until evenly combined.

3. Roll the Cabbage

1. Lay a cabbage leaf flat, place about 2–3 tablespoons of the filling near the base of the leaf.
2. Fold in the sides and roll up tightly, tucking in the edges. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.

4. Prepare the Sauce

1. In a separate bowl, mix together tomato sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Adjust to taste.

5. Cook the Rolls

Stovetop method:

1. Place the rolls seam-side down in a large pot or Dutch oven.
2. Pour the sauce over the rolls.
3. Cover and simmer on low heat for 45–60 minutes, until the meat is cooked through and the flavors meld.

Oven method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place the rolls seam-side down in a baking dish. Pour the sauce over them. Cover with foil.
3. Bake for 45–60 minutes, until cooked through.

6. Serve

1. Spoon some sauce over the cabbage rolls when serving.
2. Optional garnish: fresh parsley or a dollop of sour cream.

Tips

• Rice: For softer rolls, slightly undercook the rice before mixing it with the meat.
• Make-Ahead: Stuffed cabbage rolls can be assembled a day in advance and refrigerated. Bake or simmer just before serving.
• Freezing: They freeze well either cooked or uncooked. If freezing uncooked, pour sauce over and freeze; bake from frozen at 350°F for ~75 minutes.

These Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are comforting, flavorful, and perfect for family dinners. The tender cabbage combined with savory meat filling and tangy tomato sauce is pure comfort food! 🥬🍅🍽️

If you want, I can also give you a quick weeknight version that uses ground beef and pre-shredded cabbage to save time.