Ingredients
- 1 large green cabbage
- 500 g (1 lb) ground beef (or mix of beef & pork)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups tomato sauce (marinara)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- Fresh parsley (chopped)
- Optional: mozzarella for topping
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Carefully peel off cabbage leaves and blanch them for 2–3 minutes until soft.
- Set aside to cool and trim thick stems.
2. Make the filling
- In a bowl, mix:
- Ground meat
- Cooked rice
- Onion & garlic
- Egg
- Parmesan
- Parsley, salt, and pepper
3. Assemble the rolls
- Place a portion of filling onto each cabbage leaf.
- Roll tightly, folding in the sides (like a burrito).
4. Cook
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Spread some tomato sauce in a baking dish.
- Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down.
- Cover with remaining sauce and a drizzle of olive oil.
5. Bake
- Cover with foil and bake for 40–50 minutes.
- Optional: uncover, add mozzarella, and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.
🌿 Tips
- For extra Italian flavor, add a pinch of oregano or basil to the sauce.
- Swap rice with breadcrumbs for a more meatball-like texture.
- These taste even better the next day!