Traditional Cabbage Rolls In Tomato Cream Sauce Recipes

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the cabbage rolls: Combine the bread and milk in a small bowl and soak 5 minutes. Squeeze the excess milk from the bread and transfer to a large bowl. Add the pork, beef, parmesan, eggs, parsley, cognac, oregano, garlic, nutmeg, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix with your hands until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Carefully separate the cabbage leaves (you will need 12 large leaves, or you can use 2 small leaves to make a large one). Working in batches, blanch the leaves until pliable, about 45 seconds, then remove with tongs and transfer to the ice water. Remove from the ice water, shake dry, then layer between paper towels to soak up the excess moisture. Trim the tough center stem from the bottom of each leaf.
• Shape the meat mixture into twelve 4-inch-long sausages. Lay out a cabbage leaf, then put a sausage on top lengthwise. Fold in the short ends of the leaf, then tightly roll up the leaf like a burrito. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and sausages. Transfer the rolls to a plate and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Fit a large, wide pot with a steamer insert and fill with 2 inches of water; bring the water to a boil. Arrange the cabbage rolls in the steamer insert, cover and reduce the heat to medium low; steam until the filling is cooked through, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Add the cognac and simmer until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water, the oregano and 3/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until mostly smooth, then return to the pot; thin with up to 1/2 cup hot water, if desired. Season with salt. Bring just to a simmer and stir in a splash of cognac.
• Serve the cabbage rolls topped with the sauce, parmesan and parsley.

KITTENCAL'S CABBAGE ROLLS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F (second-lowest oven rack).
• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan or use a larger pan (for easier clean up I strongly advise to use a disposable heavy foil pan).
• Make certain that the cabbage heads are completely thawed before using for this (to do this remove the heads of cabbage from freezer and place in a bowl then thaw at room temperature overnight).
• Using a small sharp knife carefully remove the hard core/stem from the center of the head, then remove the leaves from the cabbage (you may need to keep slicing off some middle part to remove the leaves easier).
• To speed up cooking time you may want to cook the leaves in boiling salted water for about 8-10 minutes this will give the cabbage rolls a head start and reduce cooking time slightly.
• Using your hands gently squeeze out 2 to 3 leaves at a time to remove excess water, then place the leaves in a large bowl; set aside.
• FOR MEAT FILLING; using clean hands mix all ingredients together for the meat filling in large bowl until thoroughly combined.
• FOR SAUCE; in another bowl combine all sauce ingredients together until blended (adjust the salt and pepper to taste).
• Line the bottom of the pan with cabbage leaves (due to the long cooking time this will protect the rolls from over browning/burning in the pan while cooking, you may also place leaves on top of the sauce then cover with foil but that is optional).
• Using a large spoon or a ladle drizzle half of the sauce over the leaves then spread out to cover the leaves (does not have to cover the leaves completely).
• Stuff the cabbage leaves tightly but carefully with the meat mixture (I use about 1/3-cup for larger leaves).
• Roll up tightly and place the rolls in a single layer on top of the cabbage leaves and sauce in the baking dish.
• Drizzle the remaining sauce over the rolls (using a butter knife separate the rolls slightly to insure the sauce settles between and around each roll).
• Sprinkle about 1/2 cup or a little more sauerkraut over the sauce (if using).
• At this point you may cover the rolls with more leaves if desired (this is optional but good to do).
• Cover tightly with foil.
• IMPORTANT; if you are using a 13 x 9-inch dish it will be very full so place on a large jelly-roll pan to catch any spills.
• Cook at 350 degrees F (oven rack set to second-lowest position) for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until the cabbage is very tender, the cooking time will vary depending on how thick the cabbage leaves are and if you have pre-boiled the leaves firstly, I usually check after about 2 hours).

OLD-FASHIONED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Cook cabbage in boiling water just until outer leaves pull away easily from head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls. In a small bowl, combine the beef, pork, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, onion, rice, parsley, salt, dill and cayenne; mix well., Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each leaf, making a V-shaped cut. Place about 1/4 cup meat mixture on a cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides. Beginning from the cut end, roll up. Repeat., Slice the remaining cabbage; place in a Dutch oven. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam side down over sliced cabbage. Combine the tomatoes, sugar and remaining tomato sauce; pour over the rolls. Cover and bake at 350° until cabbage rolls are tender, 1-1/2 hours.

CABBAGE ROLLS II

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil cabbage leaves 2 minutes; drain.
• In large bowl, combine 1 cup cooked rice, egg, milk, onion, ground beef, salt, and pepper. Place about 1/4 cup of meat mixture in center of each cabbage leaf, and roll up, tucking in ends. Place rolls in slow cooker.
• In a small bowl, mix together tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over cabbage rolls.
• Cover, and cook on Low 8 to 9 hours.

TRADITIONAL CABBAGE ROLLS IN TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the filling for the Stuffed Cabbage Leaves: Place the bread cubes in a small mixing bowl, add the milk and leave the bread to soak until it is completely saturated, approximate 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess milk with your hands; discard the milk and add the soaked bread to a large mixing bowl with the meat, rice, parsley, sage, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix well, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate while you prepare the cabbage.
• Steam the cabbage for 5-10 minutes, until the outermost leaves are pliable. After removing several softened leaves, you will likely need to continue steaming the inner leaves. Peel off at least 12 leaves total. Holding each leaf rib-side up, pare the thick part of the rib to flatten it.
• Place a small amount of filling in the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, overlapping them slightly. Starting at the stem end, roll up the leaf into a compact bundle. Continue process until all leaves and meat mixture have been used.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Make the sauce: Heat a large Dutch Oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, and garlic; saute until the vegetables are translucent. Add tomato paste and paprika; saute for 3 minutes. Stir in chicken stock, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove 1 cup of the sauce to a measuring cup. Arrange the stuffed cabbage leaves neatly in a single layer over the remaining sauce in the Dutch Oven. If you had more filling than cabbage leaves to fill, use the rest to make meatballs, and tuck them in around the rolls. Pour the 1 cup of reserved sauce over the rolls. Transfer the Dutch Oven to the preheated oven and bake until the bundles are cooked through and firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Use a large spoon to transfer the rolls to a platter or storage container. With an immersion blender, puree the sauce together with the sour cream. Serve the cabbage rolls with mashed potatoes or rice to absorb the luscious sauce.

CABBAGE ROLLS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove core from the cabbage. Place cabbage in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; after about 3 minutes, outer leaves should be tender enough to remove. Return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until leaves are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Remove the tough center stalk from each leaf; reserve extra leaves and line a large baking dish with them. (If leaves for rolling are too brittle, return to boiling water for 1-2 minutes.) , Combine meat, rice, onion, egg and seasonings. Place about 2 tablespoons of meat mixture on each cabbage leaf. Roll toward the stalk, tucking in sides. Place rolls, seam side down, in a baking dish. , Combine sauce ingredients; pour over rolls. Cover and bake at 350° for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours.

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place cabbage, core-side down, in an 8- to 10-cup microwave-safe casserole dish. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and microwave on high until outer leaves are soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and cool.
• While the cabbage is cooling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine ground beef, pork, veal, rice, onion, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add 1 teaspoon each of thyme, basil, and oregano; mix until well combined.
• Remove 12 outer leaves from the cooled cabbage and trim the thick stems to make them easier to roll.
• Divide meat mixture into 12 equal portions. Place 1 portion on the stem end of each cabbage leaf. Roll up the leaves and fold in the ends. Place rolls, seam-sides down, in a single layer in a casserole dish.
• Combine crushed tomatoes with remaining thyme, basil, and oregano and pour over cabbage rolls.
• Cover and bake in the preheated oven until meat is cooked through, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

TRADITIONAL GREEK STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS (LAHANODOLMADES)

Steps:

• Prepare the rice mixture: Mix together the rice, ground beef, onion, spring onions, carrot, olive oil, parsley, dill, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for half an hour.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and stir in a teaspoon of salt.
• Remove the entire core of the cabbage using a sharp pairing knife. Immerse the cabbage in the boiling water, cored side down. The water should be almost to the top of the cabbage. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, or, until the leaves can be easily separated (Note: If you use Savoy cabbage the cooking time is much shorter, at just under 5 minutes). Using tongs, carefully remove each leaf from the pot, as soon as they become soft and flexible, and place them on a drainer to cool. Set aside and reserve any hard, torn, or very small leaves to line the bottom of your pot later.
• To assemble the cabbage rolls: place a cabbage leaf on a work surface. Place a tablespoon of the filling (the size of a walnut) near the bottom of the leaf. If necessary, cut into the leaf's stem (in a V shape) to remove the hard and thick spine. This will make them easier to roll. Fold the bottom end up and over the filling, then fold the two side ends of the cabbage leaf towards the center. Roll the leaf up to enclose the mixture, making sure not to roll it too tight because the rice filling will expand while it cooks. For the leaves that are a bit too small, you can overlap two of them to form a larger leaf before filling, or, you can also patch up any tears the leaves might have. For the leaves that are too large, cut them in half along the hard stem.
• To layer the cabbage rolls: line the bottom of the pot with those reserved leaves that were too hard or too small to fill. This will protect the stuffed cabbage rolls from over browning. Arrange the rolls seam side down in the pot. Make sure they are placed snuggly against each other so they do not move during cooking. Repeat with a second layer of rolls. Top with more of the leftover harder cabbage leaves, if you have them.
• To cook: Pour the stock and water over them, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover the top of the stuffed cabbage rolls with an inverted, heatproof, shallow plate or bowl. The plate should be large enough that it covers the rolls, but small enough to not touch the sides of the pot. This will keep the rolls in place while cooking and will ensure that they cook properly. Reduce the heat to a medium-low and simmer for about 45-50 minutes. Check to make sure the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and uncover the pot.
• Make the avgolemono sauce: Whisk the eggs very well until frothy; for best results, use a hand-held mixer. Add the lemon juice and the cornstarch and whisk again. Start "tempering" the eggs by adding a ladle of hot liquid from the pot to the bowl while whisking constantly. Add one more ladle and whisk again until combined. Stir in the egg-lemon broth into the pot, shaking the pan to distribute evenly. Bring to a very gentle simmer over medium-low heat for just a minute or so, making sure it does not come to a boil. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the broth for seasoning.
• To serve: arrange the rolls on individual serving plates and then top them with the frothy hot sauce (do not drown them). Garnish with lemon slices, fresh dill and some freshly ground pepper.