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Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Sara Collins
This Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls recipe is warm, filling and full of classic flavor. Many families love this Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls recipe for its rich taste and soft texture.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine European
Servings 6
Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large cabbage head
  • 500 g ground beef
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions
  

Prepare the Cabbage Leaves

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully place the whole cabbage inside. Cook for a few minutes until leaves soften. Remove gently and separate leaves without tearing them.

Trim Thick Stems

  • Take each cabbage leaf and cut the thick stem part. This makes rolling easier. Be careful not to break the leaf. Keep leaves large enough to hold filling.

Cook the Rice

  • Boil rice in water until slightly soft. Do not fully cook it. Drain and let it cool. This helps the rice finish cooking inside the rolls later.

Prepare the Filling

  • In a bowl, mix ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and egg. Mix gently until combined. Do not overmix to keep the filling soft and juicy.

Fill the Cabbage Leaves

  • Place a spoon of filling near the base of each leaf. Fold sides inward and roll tightly. Repeat for all leaves. Make sure rolls are firm but not too tight.

Arrange in Baking Dish

  • Grease a baking dish lightly with oil. Spread a little tomato sauce on the bottom. Place cabbage rolls in a single layer. Cover with remaining sauce evenly.

Bake the Cabbage Rolls

  • Preheat oven to 180°C. Cover dish with foil. Bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes. The rolls should be tender and fully cooked. Sauce should be bubbling gently.

Rest and Serve

  • Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. This helps flavors settle. Serve warm with extra sauce on top for the best taste.

Notes

  • Choose a large cabbage with flexible leaves.
  • Do not overfill the rolls. It makes rolling difficult.
  • Use slightly cooked rice for best texture.
  • Add herbs like parsley for extra flavor.
  • Cover tightly while baking to keep moisture inside.
  • Taste the sauce before baking and adjust seasoning.
Keyword Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls Recipe