Time: 1 hour and a half     Servings: 6

 

 

In this recipe, we are introducing a lunch or a dinner dish that you can prepare from scratch. We are going to learn how to prepare a delicious stuffed cabbage rolls. Read this article for more details and tips on how to make scrumptious meal.

 

Don’t feel overwhelmed with the fact that these stuffed cabbage rolls are made from scratch. They are very simple to prepare and in few clear steps that you will find in the instructions below. Nevertheless, to give you a general idea about this dish, you will need ingredients for the tomato sauce and for the cabbage rolls. You will need butter, onion, garlic, a can of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, ground beef, cooked rice, chopped parsley, egg, salt, pepper, one head cabbage and cooking spray to avoid sticking. As you notice, most of these ingredients, you will find at home. You will maybe need a quick stop at the store to grab few things and then you can start preparing your meal. The preparation time is half an hour only. The remaining hour is for cooking. This means that in an hour and a half you will have these scrumptious cabbage rolls ready on your table.

 

These stuffed cabbage rolls can make up a nutritious main course itself. However, you can accompany it with whatever you think will go appropriate. This dish is not entirely salty. It has a sweet and sour taste thanks to the brown sugar and vinegar used in the tomato sauce. Its texture is tender and soft with a juicy stuffing inside. I used to hate eating cabbages, but thanks to this magnificent recipe I get thrilled to prepare them whenever I can. This is a perfectly American dish that I consider highly comforting. I love to make it for dinner in a cold day as it gives a very cozy feeling. Try it! I am sure you will have a blast and feel comforted having these scrumptious cabbage rolls.

 

How to serve?

Not that it needs to be served with anything because there rolls are stuffed with different ingredients and full of nutrients. However, you can serve this dish in its cooking pan with whatever you like, mashed potatoes, etc.

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped  onion
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 28 ounce-can of un-drained crushed tomatoes
• 15 ounce can tomato sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

 

FOR THE CABBAGE ROLLS

• 1 pound of 90% lean ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped  onion
• 1 teaspoon of minced  garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley leaves, (divided)
• 1 egg
• 1 head cabbage
• cooking spray

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

The tomato sauce:

1. Place a large pot over medium heat and melt butter. Add in the chopped onion. Allow it to cook for a maximum of 5 minutes (until the onion is translucent)
2. Cook in the garlic for 30 seconds. Then, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Stir in the wine vinegar and brown sugar Allow these ingredients to simmer and cook them for a maximum of 15 minutes while stirring from time to time.
3. While the sauce is simmering, let’s start preparing the cabbage rolls.
4. Boil a large pot of water.
5. Put the cabbage head in boiling water and let it cook for a maximum of 5 minutes until the leaves are pliable.
6. Peel 12 cabbage leaves once the head is cooked.
7. In a bowl, combine the ground beef with the cooked rice, garlic, onion, 2 tbsps. of parsley, egg, half cup of the tomato sauce, salt and pepper.
8. On a flat surface, lay a cabbage leaf and cut in a V shape to remove the thick part of the cabbage rib using a small knife.
9. Place in the center of each cabbage leaf a log-shaped meat mixture (shape a 1/3 cup of the beef mixture)
10. Roll the leaf over the mixture to make stuffed cabbage rolls.
11. Repeat the process with the rest of the meat mixture and the cabbage leaves.
12. When you are done rolling the cabbages, heat the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
13. Take 9×13-inch pan and coat it with cooking spray.
14. Spread half of the tomato sauce in the bottom of the dish.
15. Put the cabbage rolls on top of the tomato sauce. (the seam side should be facing the bottom of the pan.)
16. Spread the rest of the tomato sauce on top of the rolls.
17. Cover the pan with foil and bake it for 1 hour to 1 hour and a half maximum. (You should obtain tender cabbage and well-cooked meat for the end result.)
18. Garnish with 2 tbsps. of parsley.
19. Serve and enjoy!

 

Notes:

• To double the servings, double the measurement of each ingredient.
• These cabbage rolls can be stayed fresh in the fridge covered for 8 hours before you bake them.
• Slice off the root end of the cabbage to have a full cabbage leaf and avoid tearing.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 657mg | Potassium: 1180mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 18g |   Vitamin A: 910IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 5mg