Description
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are the ultimate comfort food, featuring tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory, herb-infused ground beef and rice filling.
Ingredients
1 large head green cabbage
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely diced yellow onion
2 garlic cloves minced
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound 85/15 ground beef
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
1 garlic clove minced
1 large egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350F and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish. Boil a large pot of water, trim the base of a cabbage head, and submerge it to boil for 4-5 minutes until leaves peel easily. Drain the cabbage and let it cool, then carefully peel 12 pliable leaves, avoiding tears.
For the sauce, saut 1 cup of diced onion in olive oil in a skillet for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and mash until well mixed. Trim the tough rib from each cabbage leaf by cutting a V-shape at the base. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of filling onto each leaf, fold the sides over, and then roll tightly from the base.
Pour the tomato sauce into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down in two rows. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 60-75 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Cooling Matters: Always let the cabbage head cool for a few minutes after boiling. This prevents you from burning your hands while you peel the leaves.
Seam Side Down: Always place your rolls seam-side down in the baking dish. This prevents them from unrolling while they simmer in the sauce during the long bake time.
The Resting Period: Never skip the 5/10 minute rest after taking the dish out of the oven. This allows the sauce to settle and the cabbage to become tender, making for a much better presentation.
Don’t Rush the Sauce: Simmering the tomato sauce uncovered for the full 10/15 minutes allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly, resulting in a much more flavorful coating for the rolls.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Traditional
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 18g