Ah, cabbage rolls—a classic comfort food! They’re basically tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a savory filling, then simmered or baked in a flavorful sauce. Here’s a solid, traditional way to make them:
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1–2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: parsley or dill for flavor
For the sauce:
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to cut acidity)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp paprika or smoked paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage leaves:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Remove the core from the cabbage and blanch the whole head in boiling water for 2–3 minutes until leaves are soft and pliable.
- Carefully peel off individual leaves and let cool.
- Make the filling:
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and herbs. Mix well.
- Assemble the rolls:
- Place 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center of a cabbage leaf.
- Fold the sides in and roll tightly from the stem end to seal.
- Prepare the sauce:
- Mix tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper, and paprika in a bowl.
- Cook the cabbage rolls:
- Spread a little sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Place the rolls seam-side down in the dish.
- Pour remaining sauce over the rolls, covering them.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–60 minutes.
- Serve warm, optionally garnished with sour cream or fresh herbs.
💡 Tips:
- For extra flavor, sauté onions and garlic before mixing them into the filling.
- You can also cook them on the stovetop in a deep skillet or Dutch oven, simmering gently instead of baking.
- Leftovers taste amazing the next day because the flavors meld even more.
If you want, I can give a quick 30-minute version using pre-shredded cabbage so you can make cabbage rolls faster without losing flavor. Do you want me to share that?
