Description
Savory Italian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls bring hearty Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Tender cabbage leaves embrace a rich filling of ground meat, herbs, and cheese, creating a comforting meal that connects you to classic Italian home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Grains and Binders:
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
Herbs, Spices, and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat water in a large pot until vigorously boiling, creating a bubbling surface ready for cabbage preparation.
- Submerge whole cabbage leaves into the hot water, allowing them to soften and become pliable for approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Gently extract cabbage leaves using tongs, placing them on clean kitchen towels to absorb excess moisture and prevent water pooling.
- Ensure leaves are cool enough to handle, trimming thick central stem portions to enable easier rolling and more uniform wrapping.
- Spread each leaf flat, creating a smooth surface for filling distribution and precise folding techniques.
- Place prepared filling mixture in the center of each leaf, maintaining a consistent portion size for even cooking.
- Fold bottom edge of cabbage leaf upward, then carefully tuck side edges inward to create a secure, compact parcel.
- Roll the leaf tightly from bottom to top, encasing the filling completely and preventing potential leakage during cooking.
- Arrange stuffed cabbage rolls seam-side down in a baking dish or cooking vessel, ensuring they remain compact and intact.
- Prepare to proceed with subsequent recipe steps for final cooking and seasoning of the assembled rolls.
Notes
- Choose fresh, crisp cabbage leaves without tears or blemishes for easier rolling and better presentation.
- Gently separate cabbage leaves by running them under warm water to prevent tearing and make them more pliable.
- Salt the boiling water lightly to enhance the cabbage’s natural flavor during blanching, which helps tenderize the leaves.
- Use a shallow baking dish to prevent the rolls from sticking together and ensure even cooking with consistent heat distribution.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 324 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg