Description
Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are a comforting Eastern European classic featuring tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory mixture of ground beef, pork, rice, and aromatic spices, then baked in a rich tomato sauce until tender and flavorful. Perfect for a hearty family meal, these gluten-free rolls combine traditional flavors with easy preparation.
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 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
For the Sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the Cabbage Leaves: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove the core from the cabbage and place the whole head into the boiling water. Cook for about 5–8 minutes, then use tongs to peel away the softened outer leaves. Repeat until you have 12–14 whole cabbage leaves ready to use.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, lightly beaten egg, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Assemble the Cabbage Rolls: Lay a cabbage leaf flat on your work surface and place about 1/4 cup of the meat and rice filling in the center. Fold in the sides and roll tightly, similar to rolling a burrito. Repeat this process with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, lemon juice, and water until smooth.
- Arrange and Bake: Pour a small amount of the sauce into the bottom of a large baking dish. Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the dish, arranging them snugly. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the rolls. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the covered cabbage rolls for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the rolls are fully cooked through and tender.
Notes
- Cabbage rolls can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated overnight or frozen before baking for convenience.
- To add a spicy kick, include red pepper flakes in the filling or substitute spicy sausage for the ground pork.
