Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – recipesmakerr

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a timeless, hearty dish made by filling tender cabbage leaves with seasoned meat and rice, then simmering them in a rich tomato sauce until perfectly soft. This homestyle favorite is warm, filling, and ideal for family dinners or make-ahead meals.

⏱ Prep Time

Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: ~1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6

🍳 Equipment

Large pot (for boiling cabbage)
Mixing bowl
Knife & cutting board
Large skillet or Dutch oven
Baking dish (optional for oven method)

🥩 Ingredients

For the rolls

1 large green cabbage
1 lb (450g) ground beef
½ cup uncooked rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika

For the sauce

2 cups tomato sauce
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
Salt & pepper to taste

📝 Ingredient Notes

Cabbage: Green cabbage works best; choose a large loose-leaf head.
Rice: Uncooked rice cooks inside the rolls while simmering.
Beef: You can mix beef + pork for extra tenderness.
Sugar: Optional but helps mellow the tomato flavor.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Soften the cabbage
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Carefully place the whole cabbage in and cook 3–5 minutes until outer leaves soften. Remove and peel off 10–12 large leaves. Trim the thick stem part so they roll easily.

2. Make the filling
In a bowl, combine ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix until just combined.

3. Fill the leaves
Place about 2–3 tablespoons filling near the base of each leaf. Fold sides inward and roll tightly like a burrito.

4. Prepare the sauce
Mix tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper.

5. Cook the rolls (stovetop method)

Spread a little sauce in the bottom of a large pot.
Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down.
Pour remaining sauce over them.
Cover and simmer on low for 45–60 minutes until rice and meat are fully cooked.

(Oven option)
Bake covered at 180°C / 350°F for 1 hour.

🥗 Nutrition Facts (approx. per roll)

Calories: ~180
Protein: 12g
Carbs: 14g
Fat: 8g
Fiber: 2g

⭐ Tips for Perfect Cabbage Rolls

✔ Don’t overfill the leaves
✔ Trim thick stems so leaves roll easily
✔ Keep heat low for tender results
✔ Add extra sauce if they look dry
✔ Taste better the next day — great for leftovers

🔄 Variations

Polish-style (Golabki): Use beef + pork and add a little marjoram.
Sweet & sour version: Add 2 tbsp brown sugar + 1 tbsp lemon juice to sauce.
Low-carb: Replace rice with cauliflower rice.
Vegetarian: Use lentils + mushrooms instead of meat.