Here’s a classic recipe for Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls—hearty, comforting, and filled with a savory meat and rice mixture. 🥬🍖
🥬 Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
For the Filling:
- 1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- ½ cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
For the Rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (optional)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1–2 tsp vinegar or lemon juice (optional, for tang)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1–2 tbsp butter
🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
- Boil cabbage head 5–8 minutes, separating leaves as they soften. Drain and cool.
2️⃣ Make the Filling
- In a bowl, mix ground meat, cooked rice, chopped onion, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika.
3️⃣ Assemble the Rolls
- Place 2–3 tbsp filling in the center of each cabbage leaf.
- Fold sides over and roll up tightly.
4️⃣ Prepare the Sauce
- In a pot or baking dish, mix tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Pour a small layer of sauce on the bottom.
5️⃣ Cook the Rolls
- Arrange cabbage rolls seam side down in the dish.
- Pour remaining sauce over the top.
- Dot with butter.
- Cover and bake 1–1.5 hours at 350°F (175°C) or simmer on stove 1–1.5 hours, until meat is cooked and cabbage is tender.
💡 Tips
- For extra flavor, add minced garlic or fresh herbs to the filling.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
I can also give you a slow cooker version of Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls that’s hands-off and keeps the cabbage tender and flavorful. Do you want me to share that?
