Soft, tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory beef and rice filling, slow-simmered in a rich tomato sauce—this old-fashioned recipe tastes just like grandma used to make. Perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or cozy nights!
🕒 Recipe Details
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: ~320 kcal per serving
Protein: ~22g per serving
🛒 Ingredients
1 large green cabbage
500g ground beef
1 cup cooked white rice
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 egg
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup beef broth
👨🍳 Instructions
Prepare the cabbage
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove cabbage leaves and boil for 2–3 minutes until soft. Set aside to cool.
Make the filling
In a bowl, mix ground beef, cooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Assemble the rolls
Place filling in the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold sides and roll tightly like a burrito.
Prepare the sauce
In a pan, heat olive oil, add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and beef broth. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Cook the cabbage rolls
Place rolls seam-side down in a large pot. Pour sauce over them. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours.
Serve hot
Spoon extra sauce over the rolls and enjoy!
🍽️ Flavor & Experience
These cabbage rolls are meltingly tender, packed with juicy beef and perfectly seasoned rice, all wrapped in soft cabbage and coated in a sweet-savory tomato sauce. Every bite feels warm, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying.
