Description
Delicious and comforting stuffed cabbage rolls made with a savory mixture of ground beef and pork, cooked rice, and aromatic spices, all baked in a rich tomato sauce. This traditional Eastern European dish is perfect for a hearty main course and can be prepared ahead of time.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cabbage Rolls:
- 1 large head green cabbage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
For the Sauce:
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for greasing)
For Garnish:
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Cabbage Leaves: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove 12–14 whole cabbage leaves and blanch them in boiling water for 2–3 minutes until pliable. Drain and set aside to cool.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, lightly beaten egg, salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried thyme. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a separate bowl, mix together crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, and beef broth until smooth and well combined.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Rolls: Place 2–3 tablespoons of the meat filling in the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold in the sides and roll tightly to encase the filling. Arrange the rolls seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
- Add Sauce and Bake: Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the cabbage rolls. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15–20 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the rolls are slightly browned on top.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef and pork with ground turkey or all beef.
- You can assemble the rolls the day before, cover, and refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavors before baking.
- Serve the stuffed cabbage rolls with mashed potatoes or crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 rolls
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
