Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

For the cabbage:

  • 1 large head green cabbage

For the filling:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ lb ground pork
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

For the sauce:

  • 1 large can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  2. Carefully remove the cabbage core and place the whole cabbage into boiling water.
  3. Peel off softened cabbage leaves one at a time as they loosen. Set aside.
  4. In a bowl, mix ground beef, pork, cooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  5. Place a scoop of filling onto each cabbage leaf and roll tightly, folding in the sides.
  6. Spread a little tomato sauce on the bottom of a large pot or baking dish.
  7. Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down.
  8. Mix crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  9. Pour sauce over the cabbage rolls.
  10. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 1½–2 hours, or bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 1½ hours until tender.