🥬 Cabbage Rolls Like Grandma’s

These **Cabbage Rolls Like Grandma’s** are tender, savory, and simmered in a rich tomato sauce — a comforting, old-fashioned meal made with love. Packed with seasoned ground beef and rice, they’re a family favorite for a reason!

Ingredients

• 1 large head green cabbage
• 1 lb (450g) ground beef
• 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 2 cups tomato juice or V8
• 1 cup water
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 bay leaf (optional)

Instructions

1. Blanch cabbage: Core the cabbage and place in a large pot of boiling water. Cook 8–10 minutes, removing leaves as they soften. Set aside 12–16 large leaves.
2. Make filling: In a bowl, mix ground beef, rice, onion, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
3. Fill and roll: Place 2–3 tbsp of filling near the stem end of a cabbage leaf. Fold in the sides and roll up tightly.
4. Layer in pot: Place a few leftover cabbage pieces on the bottom of a large pot or Dutch oven. Arrange rolls seam-side down in layers.
5. Make sauce: Mix tomato sauce, tomato juice, water, brown sugar, vinegar, and bay leaf. Pour over cabbage rolls.
6. Simmer: Cover and cook on low for 1 hour 15 minutes, until rice is tender and cabbage is soft.
7. Remove bay leaf before serving.
8. Serve warm — delicious with mashed potatoes or crusty bread!

Tip: Freeze uncooked rolls in a freezer-safe dish. Thaw and simmer in sauce when ready to eat!

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