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Do you love the taste of classiccabbage rolls(oh, yes, me! me! me!), but don’t have timeto roll them one by one,by one? This lazy cabbage rollsrecipe gives youthe same great flavors ofstuffed cabbage with very little effort.
These are so so juicy and comforting. Did I mention my kids liked them? Actually, they loved them – it was a very enthusiastic “this is delicious!” from 7-year-old and my toddler quickly cleaned her plate. This recipe was shared with us by my Mom-in-law and it was an instant hit.
These come together in no time and completely satisfy the stuffed cabbage craving. It’s also a really great way to use up leftover rice and cabbage. It’s brilliant!
Ingredients for Lazy Cabbage Rolls:
4cups cooked white rice (from 1 1/2cups uncooked rice), cooled to room temp*
1/2 medium cabbage, slicedinto 1/4″ wide strips (7 cups sliced)
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground turkey
1 large onion, divided (1/2 grated and 1/2 finely diced)
2 large eggs
Original Mrs. Dash, orany salt-free all-purpose seasoning
Salt and black pepper
2 Tbspfinely chopped parsley or dill
For the Sauce:
1 Tbsp Oliveoil
3 Tbsp butter
1 large carrot, julienned or grated
2 cups store-bought marinara or homemadeMarinara Sauce
3 cups hot water
*We used Jasmine rice
How To Make Lazy Cabbage Rolls:
Prep: Oil a 9×13 casserole dish, preheat oven to 425˚F.
1. Slice cabbage into 1/4″ thin slices. Place in a heat proof bowl or pot, cover with boiling water and let sit 10 minutes to soften. Drain and squeeze out excess water with your hands.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 lb ground turkey, 1 lb ground pork, drained cabbage and 4 cups cookedrice. Grate 1/2 largeonionintomeat mixture. Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp Mrs Dash, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp salt, and 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley. Mix well. Form into potato-shaped patties with your hands, each with about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture. Arrange in prepared casserole.
P.s. my larger casserole dish was a smaller 9×12 so they didn’t all fit in 1 pan. This is why I baked it in 2 separate dishes. If you use a 9×13, they should all fit :).
3. For the sauce, finely dice remaining 1/2 largeonion. Heat a largepot over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil and 3 Tbsp butter. Add diced onionand sauté 5 minutes, stirring occassionally or until softened.Add julienned carrot and cookanother 3 minutes or until softened.Add 2 cups marinara and 3 cups hot water and bring to a boil. Add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp Mrs Dash, or season to taste.
4.Pour sauce over patties until they are nearly covered. Cover with foil and bake on medium rack at 425˚F for 40 min.
To serve, plate the lazy stuffed cabbage and spoon the extra juice over the top.Serve with sour cream (my favorite) or plain Greek yogurt.
Lazy Cabbage Rolls
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
This lazy cabbage rolls recipe gives you the same great flavors of stuffed cabbage with much less effort. Lazy cabbage rolls are so juicy and comforting.
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Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 16 to 18 patties
For the Lazy Cabbage Rolls:
- 4 cups cooked white rice, from 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice, cooled to room temp
- 1/2 medium cabbage, sliced into 1/4" wide strips (7 cups sliced)
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 large onion, divided (1/2 grated and 1/2 finely diced)
- 2 large eggs
- Original Mrs. Dash, or any salt-free all-purpose seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley or dill
For the Sauce:
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large carrot, julienned or grated
- 2 cups store-bought marinara or homemade
- 3 cups hot water
Instructions
How To Make Lazy Cabbage Rolls:
Slice cabbage into 1/4" thin slices. Place in a heat proof bowl, cover with boiling water and let sit 10 min to soften. Drain and squeeze out excess water with your hands.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, ground pork, drained cabbage and 4 cups cooked rice. Grate 1/2 large onion into meat mixture. Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp Mrs Dash, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp salt, and 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley. Mix well. Form into potato-shaped patties with your hands (each should be about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture). Arrange in oiled casserole.
For the sauce, finely dice remaining 1/2 large onion. Heat a large pot over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil and 3 Tbsp butter. Add diced onion and sauté 5 minutes, stirring occassionally or until softened. Add julienned carrot and cook another 3 minutes or until softened. Add 2 cups marinara and 3 cups hot water and bring to a boil. Add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp Mrs Dash, or season to taste.
Pour sauce over patties until they are nearly covered. Cover with foil and bake on medium rack at 425˚F for 40 min. To serve, plate the lazy stuffed cabbage and spoon the extra juice over the top. Serve with sour cream (my favorite) or plain Greek yogurt.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Lazy Cabbage Rolls
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Check out our original Cabbage Rolls Video Recipe here if you roll old school and really want to impress your peeps :).
Need more leftover cabbage ideas? Check out all of our cabbage recipes here.
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.
Why do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›
If you want to make stuffed cabbage leaves, you don't have to cook the leaves to make them pliable. It's a lot easier just to freeze the cabbage—an added benefit is it doesn't stink up your house.
What is cabbage roll sauce made of? ›
After all the work of making homemade stuffed cabbage rolls, I find it hard to pour tomato soup on top. For one pound of meat, I mix an 8oz. can of tomato sauce, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce. I mix well and pour over cabbage rolls.
What to do with leftover cabbage after making cabbage rolls? ›
There are many ways to turn an extra half a head of cabbage into your next meal — toss it into a frittata; add it into the soup pot; saute it with sausage for a one-pan dinner; braise it with bacon; or slow cook it into a gratin.
Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›
Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.
Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›
Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.
What is the best type of cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›
Any variety of green cabbage will do for this recipe, but we went with savoy cabbage because the leaves are a bit looser and easier to work with. The leaves are also just the right shape and size for this application.
How long can you leave uncooked cabbage rolls in the fridge? ›
Yes, you can make cabbage rolls ahead of time. You can roll cabbage rolls, assemble in a single layer in a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Or just use the Dutch oven if you have enough space in your refrigerator. Then bake with tomato sauce mixture as per recipe.
Can you freeze fresh cabbage without cooking it? ›
“Freezing it raw will preserve the texture slightly better than freezing it blanched, but it will still suffer from some breakdown of the cell structure, resulting in softness when thawed; you will never achieve the crispness of raw cabbage once it's frozen,” says Chen McCarthy.
Can you use the outer leaves of cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›
But they really did turn out great. To make the cabbage rolls I harvested the outermost leaves. I waited to pick the leaves so that I didn't harvest more than a third of the plant. I boiled the leaves for 2-4 minutes until they were flexible.
Douse the cabbage in vinegar water, if desired.
Vinegar kills some types of bacteria and helps killing mold and mildew that could have grown on the cabbage.
How long should I boil cabbage for? ›
How long should I boil cabbage? Shredded cabbage will be done in around 5 minutes; for wedges, it'll be done around 10. You want to cook until tender, but err on the side of caution—overcooked cabbage will turn limp and give off a less-than-pleasant smell. Tip: Make sure to drain your cabbage to prevent overcooking!
Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›
Freezing is a far safer method than blanching. You won't be placing a head of cabbage in a boiling pot of water and removing it every minute or two, which will result in hot water splashes. It also means you can do the entire leaf removal at one time and not in stages.
Can dogs have cabbage? ›
All varieties of cabbage are not only tasty to your dog, they are also very healthy. Cabbage helps your dog's digestive system and is good for their skin. It can cause flatulence (gas) in dogs, so remember to feed cabbage in small amounts, and introduce it into their diet slowly.
What are German cabbage rolls made of? ›
ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef.
- 1 lb ground pork.
- 4 ounces nice smoked bacon, diced fine.
- 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper.
- 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon good paprika (optional)
- 1 medium onion, diced fine.
- 1 -2 head sour cabbage.
Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.
What should I serve with cabbage rolls? ›
The best side dishes to serve with cabbage rolls are mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, green beans, coleslaw, cornbread, rice pilaf, garlic bread, baked beans, roasted potatoes, and quinoa salad.
Can you leave cooked cabbage rolls out overnight? ›
Shredded cabbage should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours, as it can quickly grow harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.
How long are homemade cabbage rolls good for? ›
To make ahead: Cool cabbage rolls and refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days. Alternatively, freeze in airtight container for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen.
Should you wash cabbage after shredding? ›
Both methods require no arduous peeling and they don't add much labor to cutting your cabbage for your dish. So, if you don't want to see a bug in your coleslaw, make sure to thoroughly rinse the inside of your cabbage.
Make stuffed cabbage
Common in the cuisines of Central and Eastern Europe, according to The Spruce Eats, stuffed cabbage — or cabbage rolls — is an ideal way to use up outer cabbage leaves because the dish braises for quite some time, allowing the tough leaves to become tender.
Why is cooked cabbage tough? ›
You're not cooking the right kind of cabbage
If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. The Savoy cabbage can be used as a substitute for green cabbage, just keep in mind that its leaves are a bit more tender than that of other cabbages.
How do you keep cabbage crisp when cooking? ›
Once people started roasting them at a high heat, perhaps with a little extra salt and fat (like bacon), it was a game-changer. You can also try slicing cabbage thin and sautéing it to maintain some of its crunchy texture.
