Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls can vary depending on the origin, the Polish version usually contains meat and rice while the Ukrainian version generally contains only rice. I use a combination of beef & pork for the best flavour but you can use any type of ground meat for these easy cabbage rolls. This great dish is amazing left over as well… should you be lucky enough to have any left!

2-3 lbs green cabbage (approximately 2 heads)

Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce:
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 cup water

Meat Filling:
1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
½ cup jasmine rice, rinsed
⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and have a large bowl of cold water prepared and ready. Working in batches, blanch the cabbage leaves for about 3 minutes, or until tender. Remove the leaves from the boiling water and immediately submerge in the bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, remove from the cold water and let drain completely. Remove any firmer cabbage stems by cutting a v-shape at the base of each leaf, making sure to have the point of the “v” point away from the base. Set the cooked cabbage aside.

In a separate large bowl, make the sweet and sour tomato sauce by combining the crushed tomatoes, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar and water. Stir until mixed.

Pour ¼ of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish, and set aside.

In another large bowl, combine the ground pork, ground beef, rinsed jasmine rice, parsley, onion, garlic, egg, black pepper and salt. Mix until well combined.

Place the prepared cabbage leaves on a work surface.

Scoop out approximately 2 Tbsp. of the meat mixture, and roll it into an oval cigar shape between the palms of your hands. Place the meat oval horizontally on a cabbage leaf near the base, just above the “v” cut. Fold the sides of the cabbage leaf over the meat and roll like a burrito. Place in the prepared baking dish, seam side down.

Repeat with the remaining meat mixture and cabbage leaves, placing cabbage rolls snugly next to one another in the baking dish.

Pour the remaining sweet and sour tomato sauce, evenly, over the top of the cabbage rolls.

Cover the baking dish with foil, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the meat and rice is cooked through.

Makes 8-10 servings.