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Homemade stuffed cabbage rolls topped with chunky tomato sauce and fresh parsley on a white serving plate.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Classic old-world Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with tender cabbage leaves wrapped around savory beef-and-rice filling, baked in a tangy tomato sauce. Foolproof method with all the key tricks for perfect rolls every time.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Rest Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 6
Calories: 365kcal
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American, Eastern European
Keyword: Polish stuffed cabbage rolls recipe, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Stuffed cabbage rolls German, Stuffed cabbage rolls Romanian, Stuffed cabbage rolls vegetarian
Cost: $12

🍳 Equipment

  • 1 Large stockpot (For blanching cabbage)
  • 1 Sharp paring knife (To trim thick leaf veins)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (For filling)
  • 1 9×13 baking dish or Dutch oven (Baking the rolls)
  • 1 Tongs (For removing hot cabbage leaves)
  • 1 Aluminum foil (To cover while baking)

🛒 Ingredients

For the Cabbage

  • 1 large head green cabbage - Whole head for blanching
  • Water - For boiling
  • 1 tablespoon Salt - For blanching water

For the Filling

  • 1.5 lbs Ground beef
  • 1 cup Cooked white rice - Day-old preferred
  • 1 medium Onion, finely diced - Sautéed
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 large Egg - Binds filling
  • 2 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Dried thyme

For the Sauce

  • 2 cans (15 oz) Tomato sauce
  • 1 can (6 oz) Tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon Brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar - Secret brightness
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • Salt & pepper - To taste

📋 Instructions

  • Blanch whole head of cabbage in salted boiling water and remove leaves as they soften. Trim thick center veins.
  • Sauté onions and garlic, then mix with beef, rice, egg, and seasonings until combined.
  • Place filling on each leaf, fold sides, and roll tightly, seam-side down.
  • Mix sauce ingredients and layer some on bottom of baking dish. Nestle rolls seam-side down and cover with remaining sauce.
  • Cover and bake at 350°F for 1 hour 15 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

📝 Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

🥗 Nutrition

Serving: 250g | Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 680mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3mg