Description
Hearty Polish cabbage rolls merge classic comfort with modern culinary ease in this delightful one-pot meal. Packed with savory ground meat, tender rice, and rich tomato sauce, this recipe promises a satisfying journey through Eastern European home cooking you can enjoy anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats and Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) lean ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced finely
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, quartered and sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 small green cabbage, chopped (about 6–7 cups)
- Fresh thyme leaves, a few spears, picked
Base and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) olive oil
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 x 8 ounces (3 x 8 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup brown rice, uncooked, or quinoa
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) honey
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, drizzling of extra virgin olive oil across the cooking surface to create an even coating.
- Introduce of lean ground beef into the heated pan, breaking the meat into small, uniform crumbles using a wooden spatula or cooking utensil. Allow the beef to sear and develop a rich, golden-brown exterior, which typically takes 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate finely diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped carrots into the browned meat, stirring continuously to ensure even distribution and prevent burning. Cook the vegetable mixture for approximately 3-4 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth into the skillet, using the liquid to lift any caramelized meat bits from the bottom of the pan, a technique known as deglazing.
- Add diced cabbage, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried thyme, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper to the developing soup. Gently stir to combine all ingredients and create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and allow the mixture to simmer slowly. Let the soup gently bubble for 25-30 minutes, which will help tenderize the cabbage and meld the flavors together.
- Remove the bay leaves, taste the soup, and adjust seasonings if needed. Ladle the hot cabbage roll comfort bowl into serving dishes, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped parsley or a dollop of sour cream for added richness.
Notes
- Packed with hearty ground beef and tender cabbage, this one-pot meal delivers classic comfort food flavors in every spoonful.
- Quickly browning the beef first helps develop rich, deep taste that infuses the entire dish with savory goodness.
- Choose lean ground beef to keep the recipe lighter while maintaining robust protein content and satisfying texture.
- Transform traditional cabbage rolls into an easy, streamlined soup that saves time without sacrificing authentic homestyle taste.
- Customize the bowl by adding extra vegetables like carrots or celery for increased nutrition and personal flair.
- Leftovers store beautifully in sealed containers and often taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld together.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg