Tender cabbage leaves rolled around a flavorful filling make this comforting stuffed cabbage recipe perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Stuffed Rolled Cabbage Leaves
Stuffed cabbage leaves are a classic comfort food made by wrapping tender cabbage leaves around a savory filling, then slowly cooking them until everything is soft, flavorful, and delicious.
The filling can be made with ground meat, rice, onions, herbs, and simple seasonings. Once rolled, the cabbage parcels are usually simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce, allowing the flavors to blend beautifully.
Ingredients
- 1 large head of green cabbage
- 500 g ground beef or chicken
- 1 cup cooked or partially cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried herbs
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup water or broth
- 1–2 tablespoons cooking oil
How to Make Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
1. Prepare the cabbage
Remove the outer damaged leaves. Place the cabbage in boiling water and carefully remove the leaves as they soften. Set them aside to cool.
2. Make the filling
In a bowl, combine the ground meat, rice, chopped onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
3. Roll the cabbage
Place a cabbage leaf flat and add a small amount of filling near the bottom. Fold the sides inward, then roll it tightly into a neat parcel.
4. Arrange the rolls
Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down in a large pot or baking dish. Keep them close together so they don’t open during cooking.
5. Add the sauce
Pour tomato sauce and water or broth over the rolls. Cover the pot or dish.
6. Cook until tender
Simmer gently on the stovetop or bake until the cabbage is completely tender and the filling is thoroughly cooked.
Helpful Tip
Don’t overfill the cabbage leaves. Rice expands as it cooks, so leaving a little room inside each roll helps prevent the cabbage from splitting.
Serve the rolls warm with extra tomato sauce spooned over the top. They make a satisfying meal on their own, or you can serve them with yogurt, salad, or crusty bread.