Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Here’s a classic, comforting recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls 🥬✨
Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling, simmered in a rich tomato sauce.

🥬 Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

Cabbage

• 1 large green cabbage

• Water + salt (for boiling)

Filling

• 500 g ground meat (beef, pork, or chicken)

• ½ cup cooked rice

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp black pepper

• Salt to taste

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley or dill (optional)

Tomato Sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups tomato passata or crushed tomatoes

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)

• Salt & pepper to taste

• ½ tsp dried thyme or bay leaf

• ½–1 cup water or stock

🍲 Method

1️⃣ Prepare Cabbage

• Core the cabbage

• Boil whole cabbage in salted water

• Gently peel off softened leaves

• Trim thick ribs

2️⃣ Make Filling

• Mix ground meat, rice, onion, garlic, egg, spices, and herbs

3️⃣ Roll

• Place filling on each leaf

• Fold sides in and roll tightly

4️⃣ Prepare Sauce

• Sauté onion & garlic in olive oil

• Add tomatoes, paste, sugar, seasoning & water

• Simmer 5 minutes

5️⃣ Cook

• Layer some sauce in a pot

• Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down

• Cover with remaining sauce

• Simmer 45–60 minutes (or bake at 180°C / 350°F for 1 hour)

🌿 Variations

• Vegetarian: rice, mushrooms, lentils & herbs

• Eastern European style: add smoked paprika or bacon

• Middle Eastern: add allspice & cinnamon

• Low-carb: replace rice with cauliflower rice

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Serve with sour cream or yogurt

• Fresh bread or mashed potatoes on the side

Would you like a slow cooker, oven-only, or regional version (Polish, Lebanese, Romanian)?