Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45–50 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
🧾 Ingredients
For the Rolls
1 large head of cabbage
500 g ground meat (beef, pork, or mix)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
1 egg
2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp dried thyme or oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Sauce
2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1–2 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
1 cup broth or water
Salt and pepper to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the cabbage
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Core the cabbage and carefully place it in the water.
Boil 3–5 minutes until leaves soften.
Remove and gently peel off large leaves.
Trim thick stems so leaves roll easily.
2️⃣ Make the filling
In a bowl, mix ground meat, onion, garlic, cooked rice, egg, parsley, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper.
3️⃣ Roll the cabbage
Place 2–3 tbsp filling near the base of a leaf.
Fold sides in and roll tightly like a burrito.
Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
4️⃣ Prepare the sauce
Mix tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, lemon juice, broth, salt, and pepper.
5️⃣ Assemble & cook
Spread a little sauce on the bottom of a large pot or baking dish.
Arrange rolls seam-side down.
Pour remaining sauce over top.
Cover and simmer on low heat 45–50 minutes
OR bake covered at 180°C / 350°F for the same time.