Description
Polish Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls bring hearty comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal fuss. Tender cabbage and seasoned ground meat mingle in a delicious one-pot wonder that delivers classic flavor without the complicated rolling process.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
Main Carbohydrates:
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 4 cups chopped fresh green cabbage
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Grab a sharp knife and finely dice 1 medium yellow onion and mince 3 cloves of garlic into tiny pieces.
- Warm 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, reaching 350°F (175°C). Sauté onions until they turn translucent and soft, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Introduce 1 pound (454 g) lean ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until meat reaches 160°F (71°C) and no pink remains.
- Pour in 2 cups (480 ml) tomato sauce, 1 cup (185 g) uncooked long-grain white rice, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, allowing rice to absorb the rich flavors.
- Fold in 4 cups (300 g) freshly chopped green cabbage, stirring gently until leaves become tender and slightly wilted, approximately 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the dish rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.
- Plate your unstuffed cabbage rolls and optionally garnish with fresh chopped herbs for an extra burst of color and flavor.
Notes
- Use a wide, deep skillet to ensure even cooking and plenty of space for ingredients to blend.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease in the final dish.
- Chop cabbage into uniform pieces so it cooks evenly and maintains a nice texture.
- Consider using brown rice for added nutrition and a slightly nuttier flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 26-28 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg