Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Dia dhuit! Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are perfect for St Patty’s Day or any day. This is one of our most requested recipes. Sauerkraut and lemon zest add that extra something special. The filling is also great to stuff several of our favorites vegetables such as green peppers, tomatoes or zucchini. The combination of ingredients makes this recipe one of my absolute favorites. Make Stuffed Cabbage Rolls when cabbage is at its peak in October.

stuffed cabbage

Everything But…

The filling for the cabbage rolls has everything included but the kitchen sink! Ground beef, turkey, pork or lamb can be used, or a combination of all would work. Our favorite is a mixture of ground turkey and pork. My sister makes this same recipe, but she buys what is called “meatloaf’ mix that she can pick up at her local grocery store. I believe it’s a mixture of ground beef, pork and sausage, I could be wrong on that but you get the picture.

Other Ingredients Include

Other ingredients include chopped onions, cooked white rice, and an egg. Spices include salt, pepper, and allspice. The recipe calls for using fresh parsley. Normally I would say to substitute dry parsley for the fresh but in this recipe, fresh is a must. The flavor of fresh parsley shines through in this recipe. That also goes for the lemon. Use fresh squeezed lemon juice and freshly grated lemon zest. Again, the fresh flavor shines through.

Sauerkraut

You might think it odd that sauerkraut is added to this recipe since sauerkraut is basically cabbage. You might even think, “Isn’t that a lot of cabbage?” It is a lot of cabbage if you don’t care for cabbage or sauerkraut, (but if that’s the case, you probably won’t be making this recipe anyway:) but if you do like cabbage and sauerkraut, then you’re going to love the addition of sauerkraut to the filling and sauce you cook the stuffed cabbage leaves in.

With all that being said, let’s get on to the recipe and get started making Stuffed Cabbage Rolls!

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
A great recipe to make for St Patrick's Day or in the fall when cabbage is at it's peak.
No ratings yet
Leave a Review »
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 16 large cabbage leaves
  • 2 pounds ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork, ground lamb or combination of all
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 32 oz jar sauerkraut, rinsed and drained, divided
  • 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce or tomato soup
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Trim veins from cabbage leaves. Immerse leaves, four at a time, into boiling water. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or just until leaves are limp. Carefully remove leaves with tongs or a slotted spoon. Drain well.
  • For filling: In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook ground meat and onion until meat is browned; drain off fat. In a medium bowl combine cooked meat mixture, cooked rice, egg, parsley, salt, 1 cup sauerkraut, 1-15 oz can tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, brown sugar, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, lemon zest, allspice and pepper. Mix well.
  • Lightly grease 3-quart rectangle baking dish. Mix together 1-15 oz can tomato sauce, rest of sauerkraut, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley. Mix together well and pour into prepared baking dish.
  • Place about 1/3 cup of the filling in the center of each cabbage leaf: fold in sides. Staring at an unfolded edge, carefully roll each leaf, making sure folded sides are tucked into the roll. Arrange cabbage rolls on sauerkraut mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle any left over meat mixture over cabbage rolls.
  • Bake, covered, in a 350º oven about 45 minutes. Remove foil, bake an additional 15 minutes or until heated through.
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Author: Lynn / Turnips 2 Tangerines
Keyword: cabbage, ground beef, ground turkey, rice, sauerkraut
Did you make this recipe?Tag @lynnturnips on Instagram with the hashtag #turnips2tangerines
stuffed cabbage

Franks Kraut was used in this recipe. Franks Looking for another recipe using sauerkraut?? Give this recipe a try, Sauerkraut Casserole