Description
A comforting, classic dish that combines tender cabbage leaves with a savory meat and rice filling, all bathed in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for family dinners, holidays, or cozy weeknight meals, these rolls are hearty, flavorful, and freeze beautifully for later. Every bite is a little taste of home, full of warmth and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of green cabbage
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Optional: paprika, dill or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Blanch cabbage leaves in boiling water until flexible, then remove and cool. Trim thick veins.
- Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until soft.
- In a large bowl, mix ground meats, cooked rice, sautéed onions and garlic, beaten egg, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Lay a cabbage leaf flat, spoon in filling, fold sides, and roll up. Repeat.
- Spread a layer of tomato sauce in a pot or baking dish. Arrange rolls seam-side down, pour remaining sauce over.
- Simmer on low for 1½ hours or bake at 350°F covered for 1½ hours.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overstuff the leaves to prevent splitting.
- Let rolls rest after cooking for easier handling.
- Sauce can be adjusted with sugar, herbs, or spices to taste.
- Perfect for freezing — store with sauce to retain moisture.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stove/oven
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10–12
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 65mg