Description
Polish cabbage rolls offer a hearty, comforting meal packed with ground beef, rice, and savory seasonings. Generations of families have cherished this traditional dish, which promises a satisfying culinary experience you will savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 8 cabbage leaves (large and sturdy)
- ⅓ cup white rice (uncooked)
- ¼ cup onion (finely chopped)
- 1 large egg (slightly beaten)
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ⅔ cup water
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) condensed tomato soup
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Combine rice and water in a saucepan, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Set aside to rest.
- Cabbage Leaf Preparation: Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. Carefully immerse cabbage leaves, cooking for 2-4 minutes until flexible. Remove, drain, and allow to cool slightly.
- Filling Creation: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, onion, egg, tomato soup, cooked rice, salt, and pepper. Mix until ingredients are evenly distributed, creating a uniform filling.
- Rolling Technique: Lay out cabbage leaves, placing a portion of beef mixture in the center of each. Fold sides inward and roll tightly to encase the filling completely, forming neat parcels.
- Cooking Process: Arrange rolled cabbage packages seam-side down in a skillet. Pour remaining tomato soup over the rolls. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 40 minutes, occasionally rotating and basting to prevent sticking and enhance flavors.
- Serving: Carefully transfer cabbage rolls to serving plates. Drizzle with additional sauce from the cooking pan. Serve hot and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Cabbage Leaf Prep: Blanch leaves carefully to prevent tearing, ensuring they’re flexible enough to wrap without breaking.
- Meat Mixture Mastery: Mix ingredients thoroughly but gently to avoid compressing the meat, which can make rolls tough and dense.
- Rolling Technique: Fold sides inward first, then roll tightly to create compact parcels that seal in delicious flavors and prevent unraveling during cooking.
- Sauce Sealing: Baste rolls occasionally during simmering to keep them moist and infuse extra flavor, preventing any potential dryness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minute
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 611 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg