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Delicious Cabbage Rolls Cooked in Tomato Sauce

Enjoy these traditional Romanian sarmale, delicious cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice, cooked in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for family dinners!

Pinar - MsPinaQ
Pinar - MsPinaQ

2026-07-23

Tested in home kitchen

0(0 reviews)
Delicious Cabbage Rolls Cooked in Tomato Sauce — dinner recipe, beautifully plated and ready to serve

Recipe Video

YouTube

Oven-Baked Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Using Frozen Cabbage Leaves)

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Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

90 min

Total Time

120 min

Servings

4

Ingredients

Directions

  1. 1

    Remove the core from the cabbage and boil the whole head in salted water until the leaves soften, about 10-15 minutes.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, mix ground pork, rice, chopped onion, grated carrots, tomato paste, thyme, salt, pepper, and dill.

  3. 3

    Carefully peel off the cabbage leaves, and spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling onto each leaf, rolling tightly.

  4. 4

    In a large pot, heat olive oil and layer any leftover cabbage leaves on the bottom, then arrange the rolled cabbage on top.

  5. 5

    Pour water over the rolls, cover, and simmer on low heat for about 90 minutes until cooked through.

  6. 6

    Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh dill on top for added flavor.

Chef's Essential Tip

Matched to this dish

Essential for Delicious Cabbage Rolls Cooked in Tomato Sauce

A pro tip matched to this dish — not a generic kitchen shortcut.

After searing, add wine, stock, or water and scrape the fond. It dissolves into a quick pan sauce that ties the whole dish together.

More kitchen tips

Kitchen Tip

Make sure to use a large enough pot to prevent the cabbage rolls from overcrowding during cooking.

Related Kitchen Tips

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Nutrition Facts

Per serving

fat

15g

carbs

30g

fiber

3g

sodium

600mg

protein

20g

calories

350