Cabbage rolls are a delicious and hearty dish made by rolling cooked cabbage leaves around a filling, typically a mixture of ground meat, rice, and seasonings. Here’s a basic recipe to make cabbage rolls:
Ingredients:
For the cabbage rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or a mixture of ground beef and pork
- 1 cup cooked 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
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
For the sauce:
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully remove the core from the cabbage head, then place the whole cabbage in the boiling water. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the outer leaves are softened and can be easily removed. Remove the cabbage from the water and let it cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef (or mixture of meats), cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, oregano, and basil. Mix until well combined.
- Once the cabbage is cool enough to handle, carefully peel off the softened outer leaves, trying to keep them intact. Trim any thick or tough ribs from the leaves.
- Place a spoonful of the meat and rice mixture onto the center of each cabbage leaf. Roll the cabbage leaf around the filling, tucking in the sides as you go, to form a neat roll. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.
- To make the sauce, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the dish, fitting them snugly together.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls, covering them evenly.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the cabbage rolls are tender and the meat is cooked through.
- Serve the cabbage rolls hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!