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Classic Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Ground Beef and Rice

Four homemade cabbage rolls filled with rice and meat, smothered in rich tomato sauce, served on a white plate.
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Make comforting, traditional stuffed cabbage rolls filled with savory ground beef and rice, baked in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe delivers the hearty flavor of a classic family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large head of green cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cabbage: Carefully remove the core from the cabbage head. Place the whole head in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes until the outer leaves are pliable enough to peel off. Remove the leaves and let them cool. Trim the thick center vein from each leaf.
  2. Cook the filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Mix the filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture, cooked rice, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix well.
  4. Roll the cabbage: Place about 1/4 cup of the filling mixture near the base of a cabbage leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, then roll it up tightly from the base to the tip. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
  5. Prepare the sauce: In a large baking dish (9×13 inch recommended), mix the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine.
  6. Bake the rolls: Arrange the rolled cabbage rolls seam-side down in the baking dish over the sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the top. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
  7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the cabbage is very tender.
  8. Serve hot with extra sauce spooned over the top.

Notes

  • To soften the cabbage faster, you can microwave the whole head for 5-7 minutes instead of boiling.
  • For a richer sauce flavor, use beef broth instead of water when mixing the sauce ingredients.
  • These cabbage rolls freeze well. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://afripaket.com/cabbage-rolls-classic-homemade-stuffed-beef-rice/