Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe

In the summer cabbage season, I always get nostalgic about my mother's stuffed cabbage in the way it's cooked at home for holidays and not only. Of course, cabbage rolls can also be made with sauerkraut and autumn cabbage, but now they are much, much more delicious because the cabbage is tender and sweet.

They differ from the classic Romanian cabbage rolls in the fact that they have many vegetables, less meat and mostly rice - combined with cabbage, they are something super extra good. If you also have some bell peppers, you can fill one or two, just for the flavour.

Ingredients
White cabbage
2 pieces
choose smaller cabbage, it's easier to scald
Chicken breast
1 piece
any other meat or minced meat
Carrots
4 pieces
the more carrots, the tastier cabbage rolls
White onion
4 pieces
Tomato paste
100 g
or canned diced tomatoes, or tomato juice
Dill
3 pieces
Sunflower oil
100 ml
Paprika
1 tsp
Pepper
1 tsp
Salt
2 tbsp
Rice
1 cup
Step by step
Step 1

Fill a large pot with water and salt and place over heat. Fill it halfway so there's enough room to put the cabbage in here. While the water is coming to boil, prepare the cabbage, wash, clean and remove the core.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 1
Step 2

When the water starts to boil, place the cabbage in the pot. Move it with a fork so that the water enters through the leaves. Remove the leaves, one by one. Notice they get easier to remove, thanks to the boiling water.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 2
Step 3

Place the scalded cabbage leaves in a bowl, one on top of the other as you remove them from the pot. I prefer to scald more cabbage to make sure I have enough. If there are leftovers, I keep in the fridge and use later to make Cabbage in the oven. Prepare the stuffing while the cabbage is cooling down.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 3
Step 4

Cut the meat into small cubes. Place in a pan with oil and cook for a few minutes.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 4
Step 5

Very important. Don't fry/brown the meat. Cook just a little until it turns white and it hardens.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 5
Step 6

Then add the grated carrots and diced onions to the meat. Mix well and let the vegetables soften.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 6
Step 7

When the vegetables are soft (careful, they mustn't be fried), add a few tablespoons of tomato paste or finely chopped tomatoes. Stir, cook for another five minutes and turn off the heat.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 7
Step 8

Add the rice, washed, to the vegetables. Mix well.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 8
Step 9

Add salt, pepper, paprika, freshly chopped dill. Stir well.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 9
Step 10

Now we start to make the rolls. Cut the cabbage leaves into 2-3 pieces. If you want bigger rolls, cut into two. Remove the thicker parts of the leaves and roll up.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 10
Step 11

Place a large cabbage leaf on the bottom of the pot in which you'll cook the stuffed cabbage. Arrange the cabbage rolls one next to the other, without leaving much space between them. I also had some frozen peppers which I filled and placed between the cabbage rolls, for extra flavor.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 11
Step 12

After a layer of cabbage rolls, sprinkle over with tomato juice and put 2-3 dill stalks.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 12
Step 13

Do the same with all the layers and, on the last one, you can put more dill stalks.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 13
Step 14

Place the remaining cabbage over the top to cover it completely. Pour water to cover the rolls. Place over heat and when they start to boil, turn the heat to very low and let simmer for two hours. Then, turn off the heat, and allow the stuffed cabbage and vegetables to infuse for another hour. This way it'll be much more delicious.

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 14
Step 15

Cabbage rolls are very good served warm with a little yogurt or sour cream.

Enjoy!

Mom's Cabbage Rolls - Moldovan Recipe - Step 15
Quantity: 3 kg (1 large 3-4 liter pot)
Prep time:
120 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 60 min