Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage (Cabbage Rolls)

🕒 Time

• Prep: 30 minutes

• Cook: 1½–2 hours

• Serves: 4–6

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🧄 Ingredients

For the cabbage

• 1 large green cabbage

• Water (for boiling)

• 1 tsp salt

For the filling

• 500 g (1 lb) ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix)

• ½ cup uncooked rice (white or short-grain)

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp paprika

• ½ tsp dried thyme or dill (optional)

• 2 tbsp oil

For the sauce

• 2 cups crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce

• 1½ cups water or broth

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tbsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 1 bay leaf (optional)

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the cabbage

1. Remove the core of the cabbage.

2. Place cabbage in a large pot of boiling salted water.

3. Gently peel off softened leaves as they loosen.

4. Set leaves aside to cool. Trim thick veins if needed.

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2️⃣ Make the filling

1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté onion until soft.

2. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

3. In a bowl, combine:

   • Ground meat

   • Rice

   • Onion & garlic

   • Tomato paste

   • Salt, pepper, paprika, herbs

4. Mix well (don’t overmix).

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3️⃣ Roll the cabbage

1. Place 2–3 tbsp filling on each cabbage leaf.

2. Fold in sides and roll tightly.

3. Repeat until filling is used.

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4️⃣ Prepare the sauce

1. In a bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, water/broth, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper.

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5️⃣ Cook the cabbage rolls

Stovetop method

1. Line the bottom of a large pot with leftover cabbage leaves.

2. Arrange rolls seam-side down.

3. Pour sauce over rolls (they should be mostly covered).

4. Add bay leaf.

5. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1½–2 hours.

OR Oven method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. Place rolls in a baking dish.

3. Pour sauce over.

4. Cover with foil and bake 1½ hours.

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🍽 Serving Suggestions

• Serve hot with sour cream or yogurt

• Enjoy with crusty bread or mashed potatoes

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🌱 Variations

• Vegetarian: Replace meat with mushrooms & lentils

• Middle Eastern style: Add cinnamon & allspice

• Polish/Romanian: Use pork + smoked meat

• Low-carb: Skip rice, add cauliflower rice