Main Course · Eastern European · Dinner ·

Warm Hungarian Töltött Káposzta with Tomato Sauce

Name: Warm Hungarian Töltött Káposzta with Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 70 min
Cook time: 210 min
Total time: 280 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Cabbage, 1 large head; Ground pork, 1½ pounds; Long-grain rice (cooked), 1 cup; Onion (finely chopped), 1; Garlic (minced), 2 cloves; Paprika, 1 teaspoon; Salt, 1 teaspoon; Black pepper, ½ teaspoon; Fresh dill (chopped), 1 tablespoon; Olive oil, 2 tablespoons; Tomato puree, 2 cups; Sugar, 1 tablespoon; Salt, 1 teaspoon; Black pepper, ½ teaspoon; Fresh parsley (chopped); Sour cream

These savory cabbage rolls are filled with a mixture of seasoned pork and rice, gently cooked in a rich tomato sauce.

4.1(451 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 17, 2026

Warm Hungarian Töltött Káposzta with Tomato Sauce — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 10 min

Cook

3 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cabbage Rolls

For the Filling Seasoning

For the Tomato Sauce

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 394 kcal
Protein: 25.6 g
Carbs: 26.1 g
Fat: 22 g
Fiber: 5.4 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2366 kcal
Protein: 153.3 g
Carbs: 156.5 g
Fat: 131.9 g
Fiber: 32.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Cabbage 1 large head	200	10	42	1	20
Ground pork 1½ pounds	1360	128	0	96	0
Long-grain rice (cooked) 1 cup	206	4	45	0.5	0.5
Onion (finely chopped) 1	45	1	11	0	2
Garlic (minced) 2 cloves	8	0.4	2	0	0.1
Paprika 1 teaspoon	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.5
Salt 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper ½ teaspoon	3	0.1	1	0	0.5
Fresh dill (chopped) 1 tablespoon	4	0.2	0.5	0.1	0.3
Olive oil 2 tablespoons	239	0	0	27	0
Tomato puree 2 cups	180	8	38	2	8
Sugar 1 tablespoon	49	0	13	0	0
Salt 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper ½ teaspoon	3	0.1	1	0	0.5
Fresh parsley (chopped)	3	0.3	1	0	0.5
Sour cream	60	1	1	5	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Cabbage

1
Core and Boil Cabbage
Core the cabbage and place it in boiling water.
2
Peel Leaves
Carefully peel the leaves as they soften and set aside.
3
Trim Veins
Trim thick veins to ensure easy rolling.

Mixing the Filling

1
Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine ground pork, cooked rice, onion, and garlic.
2
Season Filling
Add paprika, salt, pepper, and dill, mixing until well combined.
3
Roll Cabbage Leaves
Place a heaping tablespoon of filling onto each cabbage leaf and roll tightly.
Tip: Ensure no gaps in rolled leaves to prevent filling from spilling. Use smaller inner leaves for smaller rolls.

How to Make Warm Hungarian Töltött Káposzta with Tomato Sauce

Total time: 4 h 40 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Simmering the Rolls
Arrange rolled cabbage tightly in a large pot. Cover with tomato sauce.
2
Saucing
In a separate pan, heat olive oil. Add tomato puree, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
3
Cooking Rolls
Pour the sauce over the cabbage rolls. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours.