Heritage Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

🕒 Prep: 30 min
🔥 Cook: 1 hour 15 min
🍽 Serves: 6
★★★★★
Be the First to Review!

If you're craving a dish that’s both comforting and rich in family tradition, then these Heritage Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are a must-try. This recipe is a delightful blend of savory meats, fragrant herbs, and a sweet-tangy tomato sauce that’ll have you reminiscing about the good old days.

Ingredients for Heritage Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

The star of the show is the cabbage, providing a tender yet sturdy vessel for the filling. The combination of ground beef and ground pork offers a rich and juicy base. Adding cooked rice helps bind the filling together while making it more hearty.

Diced onion and garlic bring a depth of flavor, while fresh parsley adds a touch of brightness. The breadcrumbs and egg work as binders, holding everything in place. For the sauce, tomato sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce create a sweet and tangy glaze that complements the rolls perfectly. Beef broth is added to enhance the savory notes.

Tips & Tricks

  • Use a sharp knife to core the cabbage easily, or even a melon baller.
  • Leftover filling can be frozen for future use.
  • Consider using a mix of canned and fresh tomatoes for a more robust sauce.

Serving Suggestions

These stuffed cabbage rolls pair beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes or a side of crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce. A light cucumber salad can also provide a refreshing contrast to the hearty rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use all beef instead of a beef-pork mix?
Absolutely, though the pork adds a nice richness, feel free to use all beef if you prefer.
How do I store leftovers?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Heritage Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe Walkthrough

First, preheat your oven to 350°F. While that’s heating up, let's tackle the cabbage. Core the cabbage and submerge it in a pot of boiling water. Let it cook until the leaves are soft, which should take about 8-10 minutes. Drain the cabbage and set it aside to cool.

In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, diced onion, garlic, parsley, salt, black pepper, breadcrumbs, and egg. Make sure everything is well combined, but try not to overmix.

Once the cabbage is cool enough to handle, gently peel off the leaves. Place a few spoonfuls of the meat mixture into the center of each leaf, then roll it up tightly, tucking in the ends as you go along.

In a separate bowl, combine tomato sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Stir it all together until smooth.

Now, arrange the cabbage rolls seam side down in a baking dish. Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the rolls. Cover the dish with foil and bake for an hour. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and the rolls are fully cooked.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect balance of flavors with a hint of nostalgia.
  • Hearty and satisfying, ideal for a family dinner.
  • Simple ingredients that come together beautifully.
  • Freezes well, making it great for meal prep.

Ingredients

1 large head of cabbage
1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 cups tomato sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup beef broth

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Core the cabbage and place it in a large pot of boiling water; cook until leaves are soft, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, and egg. Mix until well combined.
4. Gently peel cabbage leaves and place a few spoonfuls of the meat mixture in the center of each leaf. Roll tightly and tuck in the ends.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together tomato sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.
6. Place cabbage rolls seam side down in a baking dish. Pour tomato sauce mixture over the rolls.
7. Cover the dish with foil and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
8. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until sauce is thickened and rolls are cooked through.

Ratings and Comments

Thank you for your rating!