🥬 Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Classic Homemade Recipe)
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are a comforting dish made of cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling, usually rice and minced meat, then cooked in a rich sauce.
🛒 Ingredients
For the rolls:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 500g minced beef or chicken (optional: lamb)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 egg (helps bind, optional)
- Salt & black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika or chili powder (optional)
- Fresh herbs (parsley or coriander)
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cups tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
- 1–2 tbsp tomato paste
- Salt, pepper
- 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
- 1–2 cups water or broth
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Boil a large pot of water
- Place whole cabbage in hot water for 5–10 minutes
- Peel off soft leaves carefully
- Trim thick vein at the base of each leaf
2. Make the filling
- Mix minced meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic
- Add spices, salt, pepper, herbs
- Mix well until combined
3. Roll the cabbage
- Place filling inside each leaf
- Fold sides inward and roll tightly (like a wrap)
4. Prepare sauce
- Heat oil in a pan
- Cook onions until soft
- Add tomato puree, paste, seasoning
- Simmer for 5–10 minutes
5. Cook the rolls
- Place rolls in a pot tightly packed
- Pour sauce over them
- Add a little water or broth
- Cover and cook on low heat for 45–60 minutes
🍽️ Serving
Serve hot with:
- Yogurt or garlic sauce
- Bread or rice
🧠 Tips for best taste
- Don’t overfill rolls (they may break)
- Cook slowly for soft, tender cabbage
- Add lemon juice for extra freshness
- Tastes even better the next day
🌍 About the dish
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are popular across many countries (Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia), with different spices and fillings depending on the region.
If you want, I can also give you:
- Pakistani-style spicy version 🇵🇰
- Vegetarian stuffed cabbage rolls 🌱
- Or oven-baked version instead of stove cooking 🔥
