Ah! You’re asking about Farcellets de Col—these are stuffed cabbage rolls, a classic dish in Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine. Here’s a straightforward version:
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
For the cabbage rolls:
- 1 large cabbage (green or savoy)
- ½ lb (225 g) ground beef
- ½ lb (225 g) ground pork or veal
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ cup cooked rice
- 1 egg
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the sauce:
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to reduce acidity)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ tsp dried thyme or oregano
Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage leaves
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Core the cabbage and carefully peel whole leaves (about 12–15).
- Blanch leaves in boiling water 2–3 minutes until flexible. Drain and cool.
2. Make the filling
- In a bowl, mix ground meats, onion, garlic, cooked rice, egg, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Assemble the rolls
- Lay a cabbage leaf flat.
- Place 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center.
- Fold in the sides and roll tightly like a burrito.
- Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
4. Make the sauce
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer 10–15 minutes.
5. Cook the rolls
- Place cabbage rolls in a large pot or baking dish.
- Pour tomato sauce over the rolls, covering them.
- Cover and simmer on low heat 30–40 minutes, or bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–40 minutes.
6. Serve
- Serve hot, spooning extra sauce over the rolls.
- Optional: garnish with chopped parsley.
Tips
- Variations: Some versions include pine nuts, raisins, or chopped mushrooms in the filling.
- Cheese twist: Sprinkle grated cheese on top during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Freezing: Farcellets de col freeze very well—perfect for meal prep.
If you want, I can also give a smaller, bite-sized farcellets version that’s perfect as an appetizer or party dish.
Do you want me to do that?
