Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

Last Updated: By Linnie 1 Comment

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Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce are a gluten-free grandmother-worthy favorite. Can you smell the nostalgia? (Gluten-free)

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Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (1)

Let me take you back to my childhood. Early this week I share the amazing low-carb pizza crust and in that post I mentionedhow these cabbage rolls bringon a certain nostalgia for me. Filling each cabbage leaf with steaming beef and rice, carefully rolling them and tucking in the edges to create a perfect pocket brings fuzzy feelings to my heart.I specifically remember weekends at mygrandmother’s making these when I was a child.

Being atmy grandparents place as a child brings such fond memories for me. It was a home away from home. Different smells, different toys, and I was allowed to drink ‘coffee’; which was more like all milk lots of sugar and just a teeny amount of coffee. It was delicious cold coffee nonetheless. I felt like a grown-up.

Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (2)

As the cabbage head boil on the stove top it immediately brought back more memories of the distinct cooked cabbage smell, which even as a kid I loved the smell.

I always thought these were a part of my Irish roots until I started thinking; My grandmother who would make these wasn’t the one with Irish descent side. Even though I’ve always associated cabbage rolls with Ireland. Doing a little bit more digging I came to find these originated in Poland and Czech Republic area.I am a quarter Czechoslovakian from my grandmothers side and that is how these cabbage rolls made a way into my heart, and my tummy.

That is why I love food. I find it so amazing and fascinating how much our families and our heritage effects what foods we are exposed too. Is it just me?Roland couldn’t believe this was a family meal of minegrowing up. His Mexican heritage didn’t expose him to cabbage rolls. Just like with my European heritage I wasn’t exposed to his families caldo.I also was never exposed to tamales till I meant him either. #YUM

Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (3)

I told him I’d make caldo next and I’m kind of excited to how it’ll turn out. I’ll share here if I can make it taste like his Moms caldo. There was a hefty amount of cabbage left from these cabbage rolls and we do not waste in this house. As soon as I told him I’m freezing it to add insome kind ofsoup the request for caldo was almost immediate.

Total moment of honesty now. I made these on a whim and completely by what I remembered. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t to the ‘T’ like my grandmothers and I’m even more so wanting to ask her for her recipe now. Pretty darn good for on a whim and just winging it though.

They tasted and reminded me of my sweet, sweetchildhood.

Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (4)

What is your family food tradition that gives you warm, fuzzy feelings just thinking about?

Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe

Main

Gluten-free

American

Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce are a gluten-free grandmother-worthy favorite. Can you smell the nostalgia? (Gluten-free)

Yield: 5

Prep Time:35 min

Cook Time:90 min

Total Time:125 min

Ingredients:

  • 8-10 cabbage leaves
  • 1 pound ground beef, cooked (or use our vegetarian meat replacement)
  • 2 cups white rice, cooked
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
  • Pinch of Salt and Pepper
  • 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock for vegetarian
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dill

Directions:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • 2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook cabbage head in boiling water just until outer leaves start pulling away easily. Peel off 8-10 cabbage leaves. Set aside.
  • 3. In a medium skillet add onion, garlic. Cook until translucent (2-3 minutes).
  • 4. Add in the beef and continue cooking until beef is browned. Drain fat.
  • 5. Stir in cooked white rice and salt/pepper.
  • 6. Cut out the thick vein at the bottom of each leaf. Place about 1/4 cup of meat mixture on a cabbage leave, start to roll, fold in sides and continue to roll from bottom of the leaf up.
  • 7. Place bottom side down in a 9x13 pan.
  • 8. Repeat until all leaves are filled.
  • 9. Combine the tomatoes, chicken stock, paprika, and dill. Pour over the cabbage rolls.
  • 10. Place in the oven, covered for about 90 minutes or until cabbage rolls are tender.

Author: Linnie

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1 roll Calories: 134 Fat: 4 g Saturated fat: 1 g Unsaturated fat: 0 g Trans fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 13 g Sugar: 1 g Sodium: 108 mg Fiber: 1 g Protein: 12 g Cholesterol: 26 mg

Recipe, images, and text © Veggie Balance

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  1. Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (16)Kay Levine says

    my mother in law’s heritage was eastern European Jew and her recipe is basically the same except garlic added and no dill and extra cabbag was finely chopped and added at the bottom of the dish with tomato sauce with 2 tbsp brown suar and a couple handfulls of white raisons this sauce was then ladeled on top before serving-My mother’s with her Irish and Swiss heritage was similar to yours!!

    Reply

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Insanely Good Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cabbage tough on my cabbage rolls? ›

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.

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.

What are Ukrainian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.

What are the active ingredients in cabbage? ›

In addition, cabbage is high in fiber and contains powerful antioxidants, including polyphenols and sulfur compounds ( 5 ). Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have an odd number of electrons, making them unstable.

Why is vinegar added to cabbage? ›

Then, there is the red cabbage which tends to turn blue when cooked and so, most commonly just eaten raw. If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect.

What does baking soda do to 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 shredded cabbage in water? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

What is the tastiest cabbage? ›

Many people prefer savoy cabbage to regular cabbage because of its milder flavour and tender leaves. This is the perfect cabbage for using raw and thinly sliced in salads, stir-fries, or braised with butter. Savoy cabbage works nicely as a fresh and crunchy wrap – you can substitute it for rice paper or tortillas.

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for 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 ethnicity is cabbage rolls? ›

The cabbage roll is a staple in the Romanian cuisine with variations of the recipe and sizing depending on the region, typically taking up to 6 hours to cook. Traditionally made with pork, beef, bacon, rice, spices and aromatics, broiled in a tomato sauce and served with polenta, sour cream and spicy pickled peppers.

What are German cabbage rolls made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 large cabbage.
  2. 1 cup uncooked rice.
  3. 1 cup beef stock.
  4. 12 teaspoon salt.
  5. 2 tablespoons butter.
  6. 1 onion, chopped.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 1 egg, beaten.

What are Hungarian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Once the cabbage leaves are softened, stuff them with a mixture of minced meat, uncooked rice, eggs, onion, garlic, paprika, ground black pepper, salt, and roll them up into tight little packages. Place the cabbage rolls between 2 layers of rinsed and drained sauerkraut, pour water over and bake for 1.5 – 2 hours.

What is kissel cabbage? ›

Kissel Cabbage Corporation was founded in the 1960′s. They first marketed their sour cabbage and sauerkraut to retailers in the Regina and surrounding areas. Kissel Cabbage is a well-established, well-known name in the sour cabbage and sauerkraut business across Western Canada.

What does cabbage contain? ›

It's Packed With Nutrients

Half a cup of cooked cabbage has about a third the vitamin C you need for the day. It also gives you doses of fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A and K, and more.

What is cabbage mostly made of? ›

Raw cabbage is 92% water, 6% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat. In a 100-gram reference amount, raw cabbage is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin K, containing 44% and 72%, respectively, of the Daily Value (DV).

What are Polish cabbage rolls made of? ›

"Polish cabbage rolls (filled with a mixture of rice, pork, and beef) stewed in tomatoes. This is a dish I remember my Gram making. I've taken the recipe and tweaked it as I've cooked. The dish is hearty and delicious--and known by other names throughout Eastern Europe.

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