🥬 Cabbage Rolls
Cabbage rolls are a comforting dish where cabbage leaves are filled with seasoned meat and rice, then simmered in sauce until tender.
🧾 Ingredients
🥬 For the rolls
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 500 g (1 lb) ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg (optional, helps bind)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika or Italian seasoning
🍅 For the sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richness)
- 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
- 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare cabbage leaves
- Boil the whole cabbage for 5–10 minutes
- Peel off softened leaves carefully
- Trim thick stems so they roll easily
2. Make filling
Mix:
- ground meat
- cooked rice
- onion, garlic
- seasoning
- egg (if using)
3. Roll them
- Place filling in each leaf
- Fold sides in, then roll tightly like a burrito
4. Cook
In a pot or baking dish:
- Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom
- Arrange rolls snugly
- Pour remaining sauce on top
Cook:
- Stovetop: simmer 45–60 minutes
- Oven: 180°C (350°F) for 1–1.5 hours
🍽️ Serving ideas
- With sour cream
- With bread or mashed potatoes
- As a full one-pot meal
🧠 Why it works
- Cabbage softens and becomes sweet when cooked
- Beef adds richness and protein
- Rice helps stretch the filling and absorb flavor
⚠️ Nutrition note
- High in protein and filling fiber
- Can be higher in carbs (rice) and sodium (sauce)
- Easy to lighten with lean meat or extra vegetables
If you want, I can also show you:
- a lazy cabbage roll casserole (no rolling)
- a low-carb version (no rice)
- or a slow cooker cabbage rolls recipe
