Old-fashioned stuffed cabbage rolls are a classic comfort food enjoyed in many cultures. Here’s a basic recipe for making traditional stuffed cabbage rolls:
Ingredients:
For the cabbage rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 pound ground beef (you can also use a combination of beef and pork)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the tomato sauce:
- 2 cans (14 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Core the cabbage and place it in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for about 5-7 minutes or until the leaves are softened. Carefully remove the leaves, allowing them to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form the stuffing mixture.
- Take each cabbage leaf and place a small amount of the stuffing mixture in the center. Roll the cabbage leaf, tucking in the sides to form a neat roll. Repeat until all the leaves are used.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and paprika to create the tomato sauce.
- Pour a small amount of the tomato sauce into the bottom of a baking dish.
- Arrange the stuffed cabbage rolls in the baking dish, seam side down.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls, ensuring they are well-covered.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the cabbage is tender and the meat is cooked through.
- Optionally, you can baste the cabbage rolls with the sauce during baking to keep them moist.
- Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
These old-fashioned stuffed cabbage rolls are delicious and can be served with mashed potatoes or crusty bread. Enjoy your comforting and hearty meal!
