Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls — or Töltött Káposzta — are the heart and soul of Hungarian comfort food. Tender cabbage leaves are lovingly filled with a seasoned meat and rice mixture, simmered gently in a tangy tomato sauce, and often made in huge batches for family feasts, holidays, or just to keep the tradition alive. Every bite is rich, hearty, slightly smoky (sometimes from bacon or smoked meat), and full of homey goodness.
📋 Ingredients:
For the Cabbage Rolls:
1 large head of green cabbage
1 lb (450g) ground pork (you can mix pork and beef if you like)
½ cup uncooked rice (rinsed and drained)
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika (plus more for sprinkling)
½ teaspoon caraway seeds (optional, traditional flavor)
For the Sauce and Assembly:
2–3 cups sauerkraut (rinsed and drained)
1 ½ cups tomato purée or passata
2–3 cups water or chicken broth
3 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil (traditional is lard)
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 bay leaf
1 smoked ham hock or smoked ribs (optional, but adds incredible flavor)
