Description
Polish comfort meets hearty slow-cooking magic in these cabbage rolls. Savory ground beef, rice, and tender cabbage leaves nestle together, simmering in a rich tomato sauce that promises deliciousness with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 whole head of green cabbage
- ½ cup onions, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 15 ounces (425 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 8 ounces (227 grams) tomato sauce
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup rice, cooked
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- Mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Craft the sauce by whisking together 15 ounces (425 grams) of crushed tomatoes and 8 ounces (225 grams) of tomato sauce in a spacious mixing bowl, incorporating 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of red chili flakes, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and a single grated garlic clove until thoroughly blended; reserve the mixture for later use.
- Initiate the cabbage preparation by bringing a generously salted large pot of water to a rolling boil, methodically removing the core from a whole green cabbage, and submerging the entire head into the bubbling water, positioning the core downward for 6-8 minutes.
- Extract the cabbage leaves using tongs, carefully peeling approximately 14 leaves from the boiled head, then rapidly cool them under cold running water, drain completely, and meticulously pat dry with clean kitchen towels.
- Modify each leaf by placing it on a cutting board and delicately cutting a V-shaped notch at the base to eliminate the rigid central rib, which will facilitate smoother rolling during the filling process.
- Compose the filling by gently combining 1 pound (454 grams) of ground beef and 1 pound (454 grams) of ground pork with 1/2 cup of finely diced onions, one whole egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs, 1 cup of cooked rice, 1/4 cup of freshly chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, ensuring minimal handling to preserve meat texture.
- Construct the rolls by positioning a prepared cabbage leaf flat, depositing roughly 1/3 cup of meat mixture near the trimmed rib, folding the leaf’s sides inward, and rolling from the cut edge to create a compact bundle.
- Prepare the slow cooker by spreading 1 cup of prepared sauce across the bottom, then nestling the rolled cabbage packages seam-side down within the cooking vessel.
- Distribute the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the rolls, ensuring complete coverage to promote uniform cooking and flavor infusion.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low temperature for 4-6 hours, allowing the rolls to become tender and the meat to reach perfect doneness.
- Plate the cabbage rolls immediately, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes, spooning the rich cooking sauce overtop as a complementary gravy, and optionally garnishing with additional chopped parsley for visual appeal and fresh herbaceous notes.
Notes
- Preserve leftovers easily by freezing cabbage rolls in airtight containers for up to 3 months, ensuring a convenient make-ahead meal option.
- Dial up the heat with optional red chili flakes, allowing personal spice preferences to transform the dish’s flavor profile.
- Elevate the meat mixture’s complexity by combining ground beef and pork, creating a more succulent and richly flavored filling.
- Sprinkle fresh parsley into the mixture to introduce a bright, herbaceous note that cuts through the robust meat’s richness.
- Carefully trim cabbage leaf ribs to guarantee smooth, elegant rolling and a uniform presentation that impresses dinner guests.
- Leverage slow cooking techniques to ensure tender meat and cabbage, letting the tomato sauce deeply penetrate each delectable roll.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg