Description
Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory beef and rice filling, gently simmered in a bright tomato sauce with dill. Cozy, hearty, and deeply comforting.
Ingredients
- Green cabbage: 1 large head, leaves separated
- Ground beef: 1 pound
- Cooked white rice: 1 cup, slightly undercooked
- Onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Carrot: 1 large, grated
- Egg: 1 large
- Tomato sauce: 2 cups
- Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons
- Beef broth: 1 cup
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
- Fresh dill: 2 tablespoons, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil to blanch the cabbage leaves.
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef, cooked rice, onion, garlic, carrot, egg, salt, black pepper, and dill until evenly mixed.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Heat olive oil in a wide skillet or Dutch oven, stir in tomato paste for 30 seconds, then add tomato sauce and beef broth, simmer 5 minutes.
- Assemble the Dish: Core the cabbage, blanch leaves 1 to 2 minutes until pliable, pat dry. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons filling near the base of each leaf, fold sides over, roll tightly.
- Cook to Perfection: Nestle rolls seam side down in the sauce, cover, and simmer on low 45 to 60 minutes until the filling is cooked through and leaves are tender.
- Finishing Touches: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning, sprinkle with fresh dill, and let the rolls rest 5 minutes off heat.
- Serve and Enjoy: Spoon extra sauce over the rolls and serve hot, optionally with a dollop of sour cream.
Notes
- Use slightly undercooked rice so it finishes perfectly inside the rolls.
- Choose medium cabbage leaves for easier rolling and even cooking.
- Add a pinch of sugar if the tomato sauce tastes too acidic.
- Rolls improve after resting in the sauce, flavors meld beautifully.
- Freeze cooked rolls in sauce for up to 2 months, reheat gently on the stovetop.
- For gluten free, ensure broth and tomato products are certified gluten free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: Olubtsi, Russian stuffed cabbage, cabbage rolls, holubtsi, golabki, beef and rice, comfort food, dill, tomato sauce