Grandma's Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage, Slow Cooker Variation

Recipe View 5 mins Prepare the Cabbage: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Carefully submerge the whole cabbage head and cook until the outer leaves begin to loosen and can be easily pulled away (approximately 3-5 minutes).

Recipe View 0 mins Cool and Separate: Remove the cabbage from the boiling water and let it cool slightly. Gently peel off the softened leaves, one by one, and set aside. Reserve 1 ½ cups of the cabbage cooking water; this adds flavor to the sauce.

Recipe View 7 mins Sauté Aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rinsed rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice is lightly toasted and any excess moisture has evaporated (about 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Recipe View 0 mins Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground sausage, and beaten egg. Add the cooled rice mixture to the meat mixture. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.

Recipe View 0 mins Assemble the Cabbage Rolls: Place a cabbage leaf on a clean work surface. Spoon a golf ball-sized amount of the meat mixture onto the base (the thicker, ribbed end) of the leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf inward, then roll it up tightly from the base to the tip, creating a neat little package. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.

Recipe View 0 mins Slow Cook: Arrange the stuffed cabbage rolls seam-side down in the slow cooker. Pour the tomato juice over the rolls, ensuring they are mostly submerged. Add the reserved cabbage cooking water to the pot.

Recipe View 6 hrs 30 mins Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker and cook on High for 30 minutes to jumpstart the cooking process. Then, reduce the heat to Low and cook for 6 ½ hours, or until the cabbage leaves are very tender and the filling is cooked through.