📝 Ingredients
For the cabbage:
- 1 large green cabbage
- Water for boiling
For the filling:
- 500 g ground beef (or mix beef + lamb)
- 1/2 cup uncooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- 1 tsp paprika
For the sauce:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth (or water)
- 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
- 1 tsp dried thyme or oregano
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Carefully remove the cabbage core.
- Boil the whole cabbage for 5–8 minutes, peeling off softened leaves as they loosen.
- Set leaves aside to cool.
2. Make the filling
- In a bowl, combine:
- Ground meat
- Rice
- Onion & garlic
- Egg
- Parsley
- Salt, pepper, paprika
- Mix well (don’t overwork it).
3. Roll the cabbage
- Place a cabbage leaf flat.
- Add 2–3 tbsp filling near the base.
- Fold sides inward and roll tightly (like a burrito).
- Repeat with remaining leaves.
4. Make the sauce
- In a bowl, mix tomato sauce, tomato paste, broth, sugar, and herbs.
5. Cook
- Pour a little sauce on the bottom of a pot.
- Arrange rolls seam-side down.
- Pour remaining sauce over the top.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5–2 hours
(or bake at 180°C for about 1.5 hours)
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Serve hot with crusty bread 🥖
- Add a spoon of yogurt or sour cream on top
- Pair with mashed potatoes or rice
