Here’s a classic, hearty cabbage rolls recipe — perfect for a comforting meal. These are usually filled with a mixture of meat and rice, then simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce.
🥬 Classic Cabbage Rolls
🛒 Ingredients (6–8 servings)
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)
For the tomato sauce:
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, balances acidity)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the cabbage leaves
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Core the cabbage and carefully separate leaves.
- Boil leaves 2–3 minutes until pliable, then drain and cool.
2️⃣ Make the filling
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, paprika, and parsley.
- Mix well.
3️⃣ Assemble the rolls
- Place 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center of a cabbage leaf.
- Fold the sides over the filling and roll tightly.
4️⃣ Prepare the sauce
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan, add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer 5 minutes.
5️⃣ Cook the cabbage rolls
- Place rolls seam-side down in a large pot or baking dish.
- Pour tomato sauce over the rolls.
- Cover and simmer on low heat 45–60 minutes, or bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–60 minutes.
6️⃣ Serve
- Spoon sauce over rolls and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve with sour cream if desired.
💡 Tips & Variations
- Add grated carrot or zucchini to the filling for extra veggies.
- For a vegetarian version, use mushrooms, lentils, or textured vegetable protein instead of meat.
- Freeze cooked rolls individually for quick meals later.
If you want, I can also give you a quick stovetop version that takes under 30 minutes for a faster meal.
Do you want me to do that?
