Description
Classic Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage Rolls made with a savory mixture of ground beef and pork, rice, and spices, baked in a rich tomato sauce. This comforting Eastern European dish is perfect for a hearty main course and is naturally gluten-free.
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 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
For the Sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Prepare Cabbage Leaves: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove 12–14 whole cabbage leaves from the head. Blanch the leaves in boiling water for 2–3 minutes until softened, then drain and set aside to cool.
- Make Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are fully combined for even flavor distribution.
- Form Rolls: Place about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture in the center of each softened cabbage leaf. Fold the sides over the filling and roll tightly starting from the stem end to form neat rolls that will hold together during baking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour a small amount of the sauce into the bottom of a large baking dish. Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down in the dish, then pour the remaining sauce evenly over the rolls. Cover tightly with foil to retain moisture.
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the rolls are cooked through and tender.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the cabbage rolls rest, covered, for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and rolls to firm up slightly.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the beef and pork.
- These cabbage rolls freeze well—cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- You can prepare the rolls in advance and refrigerate before baking for convenience.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
