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Six golden-brown cabbage dumplings sizzling in a cast iron skillet, showing crispy seared edges.
Daniel

Cabbage Dumplings

Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory pork and rice filling, simmered in a light tomato sauce for the ultimate comfort food.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Eastern European
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

For the Cabbage
  • 1 large head green cabbage about 2 lbs
For the Filling
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 cup cooked white rice cooled
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced, about 1/2 cup
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
For the Sauce
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prep the Cabbage
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Core the cabbage and carefully peel off 12 large outer leaves. Blanch leaves in batches for 2 minutes until pliable. Transfer to ice water, then drain on a towel. Trim the thick center vein from each leaf to make rolling easier.
Make the Filling
  1. In a large bowl, mix ground pork, cooked rice, diced onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, pepper, and paprika. Use your hands to combine gently until just mixed - do not overwork or the filling will be tough.
Assemble the Dumplings
  1. Place a cabbage leaf on your work surface, cupped side up. Add about 1/3 cup filling near the stem end. Fold the sides over the filling, then roll tightly toward the leaf tip, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
Make the Sauce and Cook
  1. In the same large pot, whisk together crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, and water. Reserve 1 cup of sauce, then spread the rest across the bottom of the pot.
  2. Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in the pot, nestling them snugly in a single layer. Pour reserved sauce over the top. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook on low for 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the cabbage is tender.
  3. Let rest uncovered for 10 minutes before serving. Spoon sauce from the pot over each portion.

Notes

Freezing: Assemble uncooked dumplings on a tray, freeze solid, then transfer to bags. Cook from frozen, adding 15 minutes to the simmer time. Substitutions: Ground beef or turkey work well in place of pork; add 1/2 tsp fennel seed if using turkey. Leftover chopped cabbage core can be shredded and sauteed with the onion for extra vegetable content in the filling.