Zucchini cabbage rolls
This is a hearty and comforting family meal, filled with a flavorful meat and rice mixture, then baked in a rich tomato sauce until perfectly tender. Simple to prepare and perfect for any dinner.
Updated : 30 July, 2026
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
2
Zucchini
300 grams
Ground meat
100 grams
Rice
1
Carrot
1
Onion
small handful
Dill
to taste
Salt
to taste
Ground black pepper
1 teaspoon
Dried basil
1 teaspoon
Dried oregano
500 milliliters
Tomato sauce
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare all the ingredients. The meat can be beef, pork, or a mixture of both. The rice should be partially cooked (about 10 minutes). The tomato sauce can be replaced with canned crushed tomatoes or tomato passata. I recommend using young, small zucchinis. However, larger ones will also work well - just leave thinner walls after scooping them out so the thicker skin has enough time to soften while baking.
Step 2
Place the ground meat and partially cooked rice into a large mixing bowl.
Step 3
Finely chop the onion and add it to the meat mixture.
Step 4
Add the chopped dill and all the seasonings.
Step 5
Finally, grate the carrot using the fine side of a grater and add it to the bowl.
Step 6
Mix everything thoroughly and set the filling aside.
Step 7
Trim the ends off the zucchinis, then cut them into equal-length pieces.
Step 8
Using a teaspoon, carefully scoop out the centers of the zucchini pieces, leaving the bottoms intact.
Step 9
Fill each zucchini piece with the prepared meat mixture and arrange the stuffed zucchini "towers" upright in a baking dish.
Step 10
Pour the tomato sauce into the baking dish. You can also spoon a little sauce over the tops of the stuffed zucchinis to prevent the meat from browning too much. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 60-70 minutes. If the tops begin to brown before the zucchinis are fully tender, cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and continue baking until the zucchinis reach your desired tenderness.
Step 11
Serve the baked stuffed zucchinis, optionally sprinkled with freshly chopped dill. Enjoy!
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