White cabbage, seasoned ground meat, a smooth yogurt-tomato sauce, fresh tomato, and golden cheese create a hearty meal with a tender center and pleasantly crispy edges. These cabbage steaks are made on a single baking sheet and make a simple dinner for the whole family.
Preparation is easy: just slice the cabbage into thick slabs, brush with oil, and layer on all the toppings. You can use pork, beef, or a mix of ground meat, and swap Greek yogurt for sour cream if needed. Serve the finished steaks on their own, with potatoes, or a fresh salad.
What You’ll Need
For the cabbage steaks with meat:
- ½ head of white cabbage,
- 2 tablespoons oil, such as olive,
- 300–400 g ground meat – pork, beef, or a mix,
- 2–3 cloves garlic or dried garlic to taste,
- salt to taste,
- ground black pepper to taste.
For the yogurt-tomato sauce:
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream,
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste or ketchup.
For the topping:
- 1 tomato or other vegetable,
- 100–150 g grated cheese.
Step-by-Step Preparation:
1. Preparing the cabbage: Clean the cabbage and cut it into thick slices so they keep their shape when moved and baked. Carefully arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Seasoning the cabbage slices: Evenly brush the cabbage steaks with oil, salt, and pepper. Make sure the oil and seasoning cover the entire top of each slice.
3. Preparing the meat layer: Place the ground meat in a bowl and season with salt, ground black pepper, and pressed garlic. You can also use dried garlic and adjust the amount to taste. Mix everything thoroughly.
4. Spreading the meat: Divide the seasoned meat among the prepared cabbage slices. Use a spoon or your hands to gently spread it over the surface, creating a continuous and roughly even layer on each steak.
5. Sauce and toppings: Mix Greek yogurt with tomato paste and spread the sauce over the meat layer. Place a thin slice of tomato or another vegetable on each steak and sprinkle the top with grated cheese.
6. Baking: Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 190 °C. Bake the cabbage steaks for about 35–45 minutes, until the cabbage is tender, the meat is fully cooked, and the cheese on top is golden.
7. Serving: Let the baked cabbage steaks rest for a few minutes so the cheese layer sets and doesn’t run when serving. Serve warm, ideally straight from the oven, on their own, with potatoes, or a fresh salad.
How to Get Evenly Tender Cabbage
If you want your cabbage steaks to be really soft and evenly cooked, you can first brush the sliced cabbage with oil, salt, and pepper. Then pre-bake it for about 10 minutes at 190 °C. Only after that add the meat, sauce, vegetables, and cheese, and continue following the recipe.
Cut the slices thick enough so they don’t fall apart when transferring to the baking sheet. Keeping a compact shape also makes it easier to spread the meat layer and serve later.
How to Vary Cheese, Spices, and Vegetables
You can combine two types of cheese on top, such as gouda for a creamier result and a bit of cheddar for a stronger flavor. Smoked paprika, garlic, thyme, and pepper also go well with ground meat. If you like spicier food, add a pinch of chili flakes or a bit of harissa to the meat or sauce.
If fresh tomato releases too much juice, replace it with sun-dried tomatoes for a more intense flavor. You can also use a slice of pepper or a ring of onion, which will add a different taste and pleasant sweetness to the top.
