Classic Homestyle Cabbage Rolls
There’s something truly magical about sitting down. To a plate of these Classic Homestyle Cabbage Rolls. Each one carefully crafted with love. And tradition. Inside the tender leaves of cabbage. Lies a heartwarming mix of perfectly seasoned ground beef. Aromatic herbs. And cooked rice. All brought together. With a spoonful of rich tomato sauce. That adds just the right touch of zestiness. As the dish bakes. The flavors meld into a symphony of comfort. That feels like a warm embrace. On a cool evening. Making it not just a meal. But an experience to be savored. With family. And friends.
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Servings: 18 cabbage rolls (approximately)
Ingredients
- 1 c COOKED long-grain rice about ⅓ c uncooked to yield 1 c cooked
- 1.5 lb lean ground beef
- 1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 yellow onion peeled and minced
- ⅓ c chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried dill dill weed
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ to 1 tsp red chili flakes optional
- 3 13.5-ounce cans tomato sauce, divided (about three 398-ml cans or 5 c of tomato sauce)
- 1 medium head green cabbage about 18 leaves for the rolls, plus extra for the bottom and top of the dish
- ½ c water leftover from boiling the cabbage
- Chopped fresh dill for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook Rice: Prepare the rice according to the package instructions. And set aside.
- Mix Filling: In a large mixing bowl. Combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, egg, cooked rice, minced onion, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, dried dill, onion powder, and red chili flakes (if using). Add ½ cup of tomato sauce. And mix everything thoroughly.
- Prepare Cabbage: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the whole cabbage. And cook covered for 8-10 minutes. Just until the leaves are soft enough to peel off. Remove from water. And let cool. Peel the leaves. Cutting out the hard core from each leaf. If leaves are still stiff. Return them to the boiling water. For a few minutes.
- Assemble Rolls: Lay out a cabbage leaf. Place about ¼ cup of the meat mixture in the center. Fold in the sides. And roll up tightly. Place the roll seam-side down in a baking dish. Lined with some cabbage leaves.
- Make Sauce: In a bowl. Whisk together the remaining tomato sauce. And ½ cup of the water used to boil the cabbage. Pour this sauce over the assembled cabbage rolls in the dish. Top with additional cabbage leaves.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil. And bake in the preheated oven. For about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Or until the meat is fully cooked. And the rolls are tender.
- Serve: Remove from oven. Let cool slightly. And discard the top layer of cabbage leaves. If desired, garnish with fresh dill before serving.
Notes
To adapt this Classic Homestyle Cabbage Rolls recipe. For a gluten-free diet. You'll need to make. A couple of simple adjustments. First, ensure that the Worcestershire sauce you use. Is labeled as gluten-free. As some brands may contain malt vinegar. Derived from barley. Additionally, while rice is naturally gluten-free. It's a good idea to check. That it hasn't been processed. Or packaged in a facility. That also handles gluten-containing grains. To avoid cross-contamination. With these tweaks. You can enjoy these savory. And comforting cabbage rolls. Without any gluten worries!