One-Pot Cabbage Rolls (Mafufo)

Ingredients

• 1 whole cabbage (Cleaned; a medium head weighing approximately 1 kg is recommended.)
• 500 g ground beef
• 1 onion (Chopped; amount estimated from the video.)
• 1 bell pepper (Chopped; use any color you prefer.)
• 1 tomato (Chopped; amount estimated from the video.)
• 1 cup uncooked rice (Approximately 185 g; amount estimated from the video.)
• sweet paprika (To taste.)
• black pepper (To taste.)
• salt (To taste.)
• 400 g tomato sauce (Estimated amount; enough to partially cover the cabbage rolls.)
• 250 ml water (For boiling the cabbage and adding gradually during cooking; more may be needed depending on the rice.)

Steps

1. 1

   Clean the cabbage and make a cut at the base, around the thickest part of the stem, to facilitate separating the leaves.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of sufficient water to a boil. Once boiling, add the whole cabbage and cook until the leaves are tender and come away easily, approximately 10 minutes.

3. 3

   While the cabbage cooks, prepare the filling. In a bowl, place the ground beef, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, chopped tomato, and uncooked rice.

4. 4

   Add the paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix very well until the meat, vegetables, rice, and seasonings are evenly distributed.

5. 5

   Remove the cabbage from the pot and carefully separate the leaves, taking care not to tear them. Cut or remove the thickest part of the stem from each leaf so it is flexible and can be folded.

6. 6

   Place a portion of the filling in the center of each leaf. Fold the sides inward and roll the leaf into a closed packet, without packing it too tightly because the rice will expand.

7. 7

   Arrange all the cabbage rolls seam-side down in a wide pot, forming a single layer or several compact layers.

8. 8

   Pour the tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls and gradually add water, only as much as needed to maintain moisture and help the rice cook.

9. 9

   Cover the pot and cook over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the meat is fully cooked. Check during cooking and add small amounts of water if the bottom dries out.

10. 10

    Serve the cabbage rolls hot, covered with the tomato sauce. They can also be prepared in a pressure cooker, adjusting the cooking time according to the appliance.

Notes

The exact quantities do not appear in the description or can be distinguished in the audio; the listed amounts are estimates for a medium head of cabbage and four servings. The rice should be uncooked when incorporated into the filling. Do not overfill the leaves, as the rice expands during cooking.

Nutrition per serving

• main course
• one-pot meal
• ground beef
• cabbage
• rice
• home cooking
• quick
• cooked over medium heat