
Here’s a traditional Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe 🇭🇺
Known as Töltött Káposzta, this is a beloved comfort dish—rich, cozy, and even better the next day.
🇭🇺 Töltött Káposzta (Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
🛒 Ingredients
For the cabbage:
- 1 large head green cabbage
or 1 jar (1–1.5 kg) sour cabbage leaves (traditional)
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground pork (or pork + beef mix)
- ½ cup uncooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp oil or lard
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- 2 cups (480 ml) sauerkraut
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups (480 ml) water or broth
- 1 bay leaf
To finish:
- Sour cream, for serving
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prepare cabbage leaves
If using fresh cabbage: core it and boil whole in salted water, peeling leaves as they soften.
Trim thick veins. - Make the filling
In a bowl, mix meat, rice, onion, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. - Roll
Place 2–3 tbsp filling on each leaf. Fold sides in and roll tightly. - Build the pot
In a large pot, heat oil. Sauté onion until soft.
Remove from heat, stir in paprika.
Add half the sauerkraut, then cabbage rolls, then remaining sauerkraut. - Add liquid & simmer
Stir tomato paste into water/broth and pour over rolls.
Add bay leaf. Liquid should just cover.
Cover and simmer gently 1½–2 hours. - Serve
Remove bay leaf. Serve hot with sour cream and fresh bread.
⭐ Tips for Authentic Flavor
- Sour cabbage leaves = most traditional
- Long, slow cooking = best taste
- Even better after resting overnight
🥄 How Hungarians Serve It
- With crusty bread
- Extra sour cream on top
- Often made for Christmas & holidays
🔁 Variations
- Smoked meat added between layers
- No tomato version (very old-school)
- Oven-baked method
- Lighter version with turkey
If you want, I can also:
- Convert to slow cooker
- Make a healthy version
- Share regional Hungarian styles
- Write a Pinterest / Facebook-ready post
Just tell me 😊









