Description
Classic Old Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage Rolls featuring tender cabbage leaves filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, and aromatic spices, baked to perfection in a rich tomato sauce. This comforting dish takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it perfect for a hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Meat
- 1 lb ground beef
Grains
- 1 cup cooked rice
Pantry
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Begin by setting your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), allowing it to heat up while you prepare the cabbage rolls.
- Prepare the cabbage leaves: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Remove the core from the cabbage and carefully immerse the whole head or separate leaves, blanching the leaves for 2-3 minutes until pliable. Drain the cabbage leaves and set aside to cool.
- Make the filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Assemble the rolls: Take each cabbage leaf and place a spoonful of the meat and rice mixture near the base of the leaf. Fold the sides over the mixture, then roll tightly to enclose the filling securely.
- Arrange in baking dish: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce at the bottom of a baking dish. Place the cabbage rolls seam side down in the dish to prevent them from unrolling during baking.
- Add remaining sauce: Pour the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the cabbage rolls, ensuring they are well coated for moisture and flavor.
- Bake the rolls: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld and the filling to cook through thoroughly.
Notes
- Blanching the cabbage leaves softens them and prevents tearing when rolling.
- Ensure the rolls are sealed tightly to keep the filling contained during baking.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or pork for different flavors.
- Serve hot with additional tomato sauce or a dollop of sour cream for extra richness.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently for up to 3 days.
