Italian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

🥬 Italian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
🛒 Ingredients
For the cabbage:
1 large green cabbage
For the filling:
500 g ground beef (or beef + pork mix)
1 cup cooked rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
Salt & black pepper (to taste)
For the sauce:
2 cups tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Salt & pepper
👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the cabbage
   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
   Boil the whole cabbage for 5–8 minutes until leaves soften.
   Peel off leaves gently and set aside.
2. Make the filling
   In a bowl, mix:
   Ground meat
   Cooked rice
   Onion & garlic
   Egg
   Parmesan & parsley
   Salt & pepper
   Mix until well combined.
3. Assemble rolls
   Place a portion of filling (2–3 tbsp) onto each cabbage leaf.
   Fold sides inward and roll tightly like a burrito.
4. Prepare sauce
   In a pan, heat olive oil.
   Add tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt & pepper.
   Simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Cook the rolls
   Spread a little sauce on the bottom of a baking dish or pot.
   Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down.
   Pour remaining sauce over the top.
   Cover with foil or lid.
6. Bake
   Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 45–60 minutes
   (or simmer on stove for ~40 minutes)
   🍽️ Tips
   Add mozzarella on top in the last 10 minutes for a cheesy finish.
   Use savoy cabbage for softer, sweeter leaves.
   Serve with crusty bread or mashed potatoes.