Description
All the deliciousness of cabbage rolls in a meatball. The combination of beef and turkey meatballs bake in the oven. While the meatballs bake, a lightly sweetened and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage simmers on the stove top.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small head green cabbage (shredded (about 5 cups))
- 1 medium Vidalia onion (thinly sliced (about 1 cup))
- 1 can (15 ounces) fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, divided
- 1/3 cup raisins
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- 3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large saute pan over medium high heat add the olive oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the shredded cabbage, sliced onions, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Sauté for 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. The cabbage should be wilted and the onions translucent.
- Add the diced tomatoes, ¾ of the can of tomato sauce, raisins, lemon juice, honey, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover with a lid. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs. In a large bowl, add the remaining tomato sauce, ground beef, ground turkey, garlic, paprika, ground cloves, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Gently combine the ingredients until thoroughly mixed together.
- Form the meat mixture into about 50 small meatballs about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until just cooked through.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the cabbage tomato sauce. Stir to combine and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Use a combination of beef and turkey to lighten up the meatballs. You can also use a "meatloaf mix" which is a combination of beef, pork and veal for the meatballs.
- Instead of standing over the stove cooking the meatballs, use an easy oven baking method. Place all the meatballs on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven.Â
- While the meatballs bake, make a lightly sweetened and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage simmers on the stove top.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: appetizer or entree
- Method: stove top and oven
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 13.5 g
- Sodium: 1213 mg
- Fat: 29.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.5 g
- Fiber: 5.1 g
- Protein: 48.3 g
- Cholesterol: 207 mg