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Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

17/11/2023

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a very tasty dish that can be prepared in various ways, including with an Italian touch. Here is the recipe for meat-stuffed cabbage rolls, Italian style:

Ingredients

  • 8 large cabbage leaves
  • 300 g of ground meat (you can use beef, pork, or a mix of the two)
  • 1 egg
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • 400 ml of tomato puree
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Meat or vegetable broth (optional)
  • A pinch of sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)

Preparation

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the cabbage leaves for about 2-3 minutes, until they soften. Then, drain and set them aside on a cloth to dry.

  2. Prepare the filling: in a bowl, combine the ground meat with the egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix well until you have a homogeneous mixture.

  3. Take a cabbage leaf, put some of the filling in the center, and close the leaf into a roll, folding the sides towards the center first and then rolling from the base towards the tip of the leaf.

  4. Continue this way until all the leaves and filling are used up.

  5. Heat some oil in a large pan and arrange the rolls side by side. Sauté for a couple of minutes on each side.

  6. Add the tomato puree to the pan with the rolls, a pinch of sugar, cover, and let cook on medium-low heat for about 30-40 minutes. If you want a gentler and more aromatic cooking, you can also add a little broth.

  7. If the sauce dries out too much, add broth or water as needed.

  8. Make sure that the rolls are cooked through and finally adjust the salt if necessary.

Serve hot with some of the cooking sauce and, if you like, a sprinkling of grated Parmesan.

Curiosity

Cabbage rolls are a comforting dish, especially in the cold months. Typical in many Eastern European cuisines such as Polish or Ukrainian (where they are known as “golabki”), they are also popular in Italy where each region has its variant, often accompanied by tomato sauce.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls