Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage (Cabbage Rolls)
🕒 Time
Prep: 30 minutes

Cook: 1½–2 hours

Serves: 4–6

🧄 Ingredients
For the cabbage
1 large green cabbage

Water (for boiling)

1 tsp salt

For the filling
500 g (1 lb) ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix)

½ cup uncooked rice (white or short-grain)

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp dried thyme or dill (optional)

2 tbsp oil

For the sauce
2 cups crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce

1½ cups water or broth

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)

Salt & pepper to taste

1 bay leaf (optional)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the cabbage

Remove the core of the cabbage.

Place cabbage in a large pot of boiling salted water.

Gently peel off softened leaves as they loosen.

Set leaves aside to cool. Trim thick veins if needed.

2️⃣ Make the filling

Heat oil in a pan and sauté onion until soft.

Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

In a bowl, combine:

Ground meat

Rice

Onion & garlic

Tomato paste

Salt, pepper, paprika, herbs

Mix well (don’t overmix).

3️⃣ Roll the cabbage

Place 2–3 tbsp filling on each cabbage leaf.

Fold in sides and roll tightly.

Repeat until filling is used.

4️⃣ Prepare the sauce

In a bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, water/broth, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper.

5️⃣ Cook the cabbage rolls

Stovetop method

Line the bottom of a large pot with leftover cabbage leaves.

Arrange rolls seam-side down.

Pour sauce over rolls (they should be mostly covered).

Add bay leaf.

Cover and simmer on low heat for 1½–2 hours.

OR Oven method

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).

Place rolls in a baking dish.

Pour sauce over.

Cover with foil and bake 1½ hours.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with sour cream or yogurt

Enjoy with crusty bread or mashed potatoes

🌱 Variations

Vegetarian: Replace meat with mushrooms & lentils

Middle Eastern style: Add cinnamon & allspice

Polish/Romanian: Use pork + smoked meat

Low-carb: Skip rice, add cauliflower rice