Description
Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling of ground meat, rice, and aromatic seasonings, simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This traditional Polish comfort food is a hearty and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cabbage Rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 lb ground pork or beef (or a mix)
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Prepare the Cabbage:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Core the cabbage and carefully place it in the boiling water.
- Remove leaves one by one as they soften (about 2-3 minutes per leaf). Set aside.
-
Prepare the Filling:
- In a bowl, mix ground meat, rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika until well combined.
-
Assemble the Rolls:
- Place a small amount of filling in the center of each cabbage leaf.
- Fold the sides in and roll tightly.
-
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a saucepan, mix crushed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 5 minutes.
-
Cook the Rolls:
- Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a large pot or baking dish.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the rolls.
-
Simmer or Bake:
- Stovetop: Cover and simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours.
- Oven: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1.5 hours.
-
Serve:
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use a mix of pork and beef.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread for a full meal.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Comfort Food
- Method: Simmered, Baked
- Cuisine: Polish, Eastern European
