Ah! Farcellets de col (Catalan/Spanish style stuffed cabbage rolls) are a delicious, comforting dish of cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice, simmered in a savory sauce 🥬🍖. Here’s a classic way to make them.
🥬 Farcellets de Col (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 30 min
- Cook: 1–1.5 hours
- Total: ~1.5–2 hours
🛒 Ingredients
For the cabbage rolls
- 1 large head of cabbage
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- ½ cup cooked rice (or raw rice if partially cooked in filling)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1–2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
For the sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- Salt, pepper, and paprika to taste
- Olive oil
🔥 Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage leaves:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Remove core of cabbage and carefully separate leaves.
- Blanch leaves 2–3 minutes until soft and pliable; drain and set aside.
- Make the filling:
- In a bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, rice, onion, garlic, egg, paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble rolls:
- Place 1–2 tbsp filling on the wide end of a cabbage leaf.
- Fold sides over and roll tightly.
- Prepare sauce:
- In a skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
- Add tomato sauce, paprika, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Cook rolls:
- Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a deep skillet or Dutch oven.
- Pour sauce over rolls, cover, and simmer 30–45 minutes on low heat, until meat is cooked and flavors meld.
- Serve: Hot, with sauce spooned over the top. Optional: sprinkle fresh parsley for garnish.
🌟 Tips & Variations
- Cheese twist: Add a little grated cheese in the filling for richness.
- Smoky flavor: Use smoked paprika or add a slice of smoked ham to the sauce.
- Slow-cooker version: Layer rolls in crockpot, pour sauce over, cook on low 5–6 hours.
- Rice alternatives: Try quinoa or bulgur for a different texture.
These are tender, flavorful, and comforting—perfect for family meals or making ahead 😋
If you want, I can give a simpler baked version that’s easier than stovetop rolling and simmering. Do you want me to do that?
