Stuffed cabbage rolls are a comforting dish where cabbage leaves are filled with a savory mixture—usually meat, rice, and spices—and simmered in a flavorful sauce 🍲. They’re popular in many cuisines, from Eastern European to Mediterranean.
🥬 Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
🧾 Ingredients
For the cabbage rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 500g (1 lb) ground meat (beef, pork, or chicken)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
For the sauce:
- 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare cabbage leaves
- Core the cabbage and blanch leaves in boiling water 2–3 minutes until pliable
- Drain and set aside
2. Make filling
- Mix ground meat, rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika in a bowl
3. Stuff rolls
- Place 2–3 tbsp filling on each cabbage leaf
- Fold sides over filling and roll tightly
4. Make sauce
- In a saucepan, heat olive oil
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper
- Simmer 5–10 minutes
5. Cook rolls
- Place rolls seam-side down in a baking dish or pot
- Pour sauce over them
- Cover and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 45–60 minutes, or simmer on the stove on low heat for 50–60 minutes
6. Serve
- Serve warm, spooning extra sauce over the rolls
💡 Tips
- Blanch cabbage leaves enough to make them flexible but not mushy
- Use leftover rice for better texture
- Add herbs like dill or parsley to the filling for extra flavor
- Rolls can also be frozen before cooking
🍽️ Serving ideas
- With mashed potatoes or crusty bread
- Drizzle with sour cream for Eastern European style
- Serve alongside a fresh salad
If you want, I can give you a Polish-style stuffed cabbage (Gołąbki) or a Mediterranean version with lamb and herbs 🥬
