Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Servings: 5 people
Calories: 319kcal
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls have become a staple in our home, especially when the weather turns chilly. These are not hard to make and are so hearty and bursting with flavor. You'll feel like you're eating grandma's special dinner. So good!
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Equipment
- large stock pot large enough to hold a head of cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 large green cabbage
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 3 ribs celery chopped
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the Beef and Rice Filling
- 1 lb ground beef chuck 90% lean
- 1 medion onion finely chopped
- 1 cup white rice cooked
- ¼ cup beef stock
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp oregano dried
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1½ tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
For Serving
- 2 tbsp Italian parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to remove the outer portion of the cabbage core carefully. Bring a large water to a boil over high heat.1 large green cabbage
- Carefully lower the cabbage into the water and cook, pulling off each outer leaf with tongs as it becomes tender, about 1 minute (or less) per leaf. Transfer the leaves to a baking rack on a baking sheet until you start to get close to the center of the cabbage. Depending on the size of the cabbage, you should get between 6 to 12 cabbage leaves.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and stir until melted.2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- Add sliced onions and celery, and cook, stirring, until lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes.1 large onion, 3 ribs celery
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, for another 1 to 2 minutes.¼ cup tomato paste
- Add tomatoes, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Partially cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp Kosher salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Meanwhile, mix together the beef, onions, rice, beef stock, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt (1½ tsp), and pepper (1 tsp) in a large bowl. Stir in the egg until just mixed. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.1 lb ground beef chuck, 1 medion onion, 1 cup white rice, ¼ cup beef stock, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1½ tsp Kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 large egg
- Portion out the meat into mounds equal to the number of cabbage leaves (ie, 6 mounds of meat for 6 cabbage leaves). Working 1 at a time, place a beef mixture in the center of each cabbage leaf and slightly flatten, fold the sides inward, and then roll up.
- Ladle enough sauce into a baking dish (9"x13 or smaller) to cover the bottom. Transfer rolls, seam side down, to the dish on top of the sauce. Top each of the rolls with more sauce, leaving enough sauce to serve at the table.
- Bake until cooked through (at least 145°F), usually about 45 to 60 minutes (depending on the size of the rolls). Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve at once with extra sauce on the side.2 tbsp Italian parsley
Video
Notes
See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Don't worry about removing the entire core of the cabbage. You want the cabbage to still be intact once added to the boiling water.
Be very careful lowering the cabbage into the boiling water. Preferably use heat-resistant gloves. Or, find an extra pair of hands and a couple of large tongs to gently lower the cabbage head into the boiling water. As an alternative, you can place the cabbage in the pot of water, and then bring it to a boil. Either way is perfectly acceptable.
Be sure to leave some of the sauce for serving the final dish. We like to ladle about a 1/2 cup of sauce on each plate, and then top it with a couple of cabbage rolls.
The dish can be assembled up to several hours before baking.
The cooked rolls will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. Although the dish is best served fresh, you can freeze up to 2 months before baking. Reheat in the oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 612mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2mg