If you want a comforting meal that's full of flavor and tastes great, you should try stuffed cabbage rolls. This classic dish is made with tender cabbage leaves, a filling of ground beef, pork, rice, and aromatic spices, and a rich tomato sauce on top. It's a hearty meal that will make everyone in the family happy.
In this blog post, I'll show you how to make stuffed cabbage rolls step by step. I'll also give you some tips, short-cuts, and different ways to make the recipe fit your needs. So, let's get started!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make stuffed cabbage rolls:
- 1 large green cabbage
- Golumpki Filling:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- ½ small yellow onion, grated
- 4 large garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel from 1 lemon
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 cups cooked rice
- Tomato Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ small yellow onion, grated
- 3 large garlic cloves, grated
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- For Serving:
- Chopped fresh dill (optional)
Step 1: Boil the Cabbage
To prepare the cabbage for stuffing, start by removing the stalk from the bottom of the cabbage head. Cut out the core of the green cabbage. Then, place the cabbage in a large pot filled with 12 cups of water and cover it. Set the pot over high heat and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking for about 3-5 minutes until the cabbage leaves become bright green and pliable. The leaves should still hold their shape and not be limp.
Carefully remove the cabbage from the water and place it on a cutting board to cool. This step softens the cabbage leaves, making them easier to roll.
Step 2: Prepare the Filling
While the cabbage is cooling, it's time to prepare the delicious filling for the cabbage rolls. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, grated onion, grated garlic, grated lemon peel, beaten egg, and cooked rice. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. You can store the filling in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
Step 3: Make the Tomato Sauce
A flavorful tomato sauce is a must for these stuffed cabbage rolls. In a medium pot over medium heat, add the extra virgin olive oil. Once the oil is simmering, stir in the grated onion and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Then, add the grated garlic and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, water, salt, and black pepper, and increase the heat to high. Once the sauce starts bubbling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together, and the sauce will reduce and thicken slightly.
Step 4: Prepare the Cabbage Leaves
Once the cabbage has cooled, carefully remove the leaves from the cabbage head. Using a paring knife, cut out the thick stem or membrane from the back of each leaf, being careful not to cut through the leaf itself. Discard the stem.
Step 5: Prep the Oven and Baking Dishes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions. You will need two baking dishes for this recipe—a 9×13-inch dish and a smaller 2-quart dish. Spread ¾ cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of the 9×13-inch dish and ½ cup of the sauce in the bottom of the 2-quart dish. The sauce adds flavor and prevents the cabbage rolls from sticking to the dish.
Step 6: Stuff and Roll the Cabbage Leaves
It's time to assemble the stuffed cabbage rolls! Take a cabbage leaf and place 2 tablespoons of the filling on the bottom half of the leaf. Fold up the bottom part of the cabbage leaf over the filling, then fold in the sides. Roll the leaf forward until it completely covers the filling. Repeat this process with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.
Place the stuffed cabbage leaves into the prepared baking dishes in neat rows. Pour the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the cabbage rolls, ensuring they are well coated.
Step 7: Bake and Serve
Place the baking dishes in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time. This ensures that the cabbage rolls cook evenly and become tender.
Once baked, remove the pans from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. If desired, sprinkle the stuffed cabbage rolls with chopped fresh dill for added freshness and flavor. Serve the rolls hot and enjoy!