It’s cabbage time! Cabbage is a cheap and healthy vegetable that can be used in many recipes.
Cabbage rolls are wonderful as a side dish or main course. Serve them with mashed potatoes, rice, or even pasta.
I remember making cabbage rolls when I was a little girl with my grandmother. We would stuff the cabbage leaves with a mixture of ground beef, rice, and spices, then roll them up and bake them in the oven.
They were so good!
If you’ve never made cabbage rolls before, don’t worry. This recipe will show you step-by-step how to make cabbage rolls, including the ingredients and how to prepare them.
Let’s get started!
Ingredients
- 1 cabbage
- 1 onion
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 can of diced tomatoes (optional)
- 1 cup of uncooked rice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add cabbage and onions.
3. Cook for 3 minutes, then remove from heat and drain.
4. In a bowl, mix together ground beef, tomatoes, rice, salt, and pepper.
5. To assemble cabbage rolls, place a heaping spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of each cabbage leaf.
6. Roll up cabbage leaves, then place in a large baking dish.
7. Cover and bake for 1 hour, or until cabbage is tender.
Nutritional facts
(Per cabbage roll)
- Calories: 107
- Fat: 4.4 grams
- Protein: 7.5 grams
- Carbohydrates: 10 grams
- Fiber: 1.7 grams
- Sodium: 73 milligrams
Tips for great cabbage rolls
Here are some tips for making great cabbage rolls:
- If you want a little more flavor, try adding garlic or herbs to the beef mixture.
- You can also add cheese to the cabbage rolls for an extra cheesy treat.
- Use a large cabbage. The leaves should be big enough to wrap around a good amount of filling.
- Blanch the cabbage leaves in boiling water for a minute or two before using them. This will make them more pliable and easier to work with.
- Be generous with the filling, cabbage rolls are meant to be hearty, so don’t skimp on the meat and rice mixture.
- Roll the cabbage rolls tightly, tucking in the ends as you go. This will help them hold together during cooking.
- Cook the cabbage rolls slowly, over low heat. You don’t want them to fall apart, so take your time!
Common pairings with cabbage rolls
Cabbage rolls are often served with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Here are some other common pairings:
- Carrots
- Peas
- Corn
- Green beans
- Potatoes
- Beets
- Macaroni and cheese
How to serve cabbage rolls
Cabbage rolls can be served as a main dish or as a side dish. If you are serving them as a main dish, we recommend pairing them with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
If you are serving them as a side dish, they go well with almost anything! Try pairing them with roasted meats or vegetables, soup, salad, or bread.
How to cut cabbage for cabbage rolls
If you are making cabbage rolls, you will need to cut the cabbage into thin strips. To do this, first remove the core from the cabbage. Then, slice the cabbage thinly, about 1/4-inch thick. You should end up with about 12 to 16 cabbage leaves.
If you have difficulty slicing the cabbage thinly, you can also use a food processor to shred the cabbage. Just be sure not to shred it too finely, or it will be difficult to work with.
Blanching the cabbage leaves helps to make them more pliable and easier to work with. To blanch cabbage leaves, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the cabbage leaves and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they are slightly wilted.
Remove the cabbage leaves from the pot with a slotted spoon and place them in a colander. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Pat the cabbage leaves dry with a paper towel.
The filling for cabbage rolls can vary depending on your preferences. However, most cabbage roll recipes contain some combination of meat (usually beef, pork, or lamb), rice, and vegetables.
Types of cabbage rolls
There are many different types of cabbage rolls.
Here are some of the most popular:
- Russian cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are typically made with beef, pork, or lamb. They are often served with a sour cream sauce.
- Polish cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are usually made with beef and pork. They are often served with a tomato-based sauce.
- German cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are typically made with pork, beef, and bacon. They are often served with a sweet and sour sauce.
- Hungarian cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are usually made with beef and pork. They are often served with a paprika-based sauce.
- Lebanese cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are usually made with lamb. They are often served with a lemon juice and yogurt sauce.
- Turkish cabbage rolls: These cabbage rolls are typically made with beef and lamb. They are often served with a tomato sauce.
As you can see, there are many different types of cabbage rolls. The ingredients and sauces can vary depending on the region where they are made.
However, the basic concept is the same: cabbage leaves stuffed with a meat and rice mixture, then rolled up and cooked.
No matter what type of cabbage roll you make, we hope you enjoy this delicious dish!
Final thoughts
Cabbage rolls are a delicious dish that is perfect for winter. To make cabbage rolls, you need to start by blanching the cabbage leaves and preparing the filling.
After these steps have been completed, simply roll up your cabbage leaves tightly and then cook them over low heat!
I hope you try this cabbage roll recipe out, you’ll absolutely love it!
