Involtini di Verza (Stuffed Savoy Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce)
Soft savoy cabbage leaves wrapped around a savoury mince and rice filling, baked in tomato sauce.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Soffritto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.66 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Boil the cabbage leaves in salted water for 3 to 4 minutes until pliable. Drain, cool and trim the thick central rib flat with a knife.
4 min - 2
Mix the beef mince, pork mince, cooked rice, egg, parmesan, parsley and your ready made soffritto (see the base recipe) in a bowl with 1 tsp salt and plenty of pepper.
- 3
Put a 3 tbsp portion of filling in the centre of each leaf, fold in the sides and roll up into a parcel.
- 4
Spread a third of your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe) in a baking dish. Pack in the rolls seam side down, and pour over the rest.
- 5
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the filling is cooked through, 75C in the middle.
60 min - 6
Rest for 5 minutes, then serve with crusty bread or mash.
Tips
- Cook the rice for the filling in advance and cool it quickly. Warm rice makes the filling heavy and sticky.
- Cut out the tough rib at the base of each leaf so it rolls without cracking.
- Freeze the whole head of cabbage for a day and defrost it. The leaves then peel off soft with no boiling.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keeps 3 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. Reheat covered until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make them ahead?
Yes. Assemble the rolls in the dish up to a day ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Add 10 minutes to the baking time.
Can I use turkey mince?
Yes. Turkey mince works but is leaner, so add 1 tbsp olive oil to the filling to stop it drying out.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.