Italian stuffed cabbage rolls—often called involtini di cavolo—are a cozy, traditional dish made with tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a flavorful filling and simmered in sauce. Here’s a simple, authentic-style recipe you can try:
🥬 Italian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Involtini di Cavolo)
🧾 Ingredients
- 1 large green cabbage
- 400–500 g ground beef (or mix of beef + pork)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2–3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, black pepper
- Fresh parsley or basil (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil
- Carefully remove whole cabbage leaves and blanch them for 2–3 minutes until soft
- Let them cool and trim the thick stem part
2. Make the filling
- In a bowl, mix:
- Ground meat
- Cooked rice
- Onion, garlic
- Egg
- Parmesan
- Salt, pepper, herbs
3. Roll them up
- Place a spoonful of filling on each cabbage leaf
- Fold the sides in and roll tightly like a parcel
4. Cook
- Heat olive oil in a pan, lightly brown the rolls
- Pour in tomato sauce, cover, and simmer on low heat for 35–45 minutes
🍽️ Serving tip
Serve hot with extra sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Crusty bread on the side makes it even better 😋
💡 Variations
- Add breadcrumbs instead of rice for a denser filling
- Use Mozzarella inside for a cheesy surprise
- Make it vegetarian with lentils and vegetables
If you want, I can give you a quicker version or a baked (oven-style) method 👍
