I’ve always associated winter with cabbage, not only because it’s in season, but also because of its versatility in many recipes: from side dishes to pasta to main courses. And so today I’m sharing a very simple cabbage recipe, which is savoy cabbage rolls stuffed with pork.
Stuffed cabbage rolls is a dish is of Polish origins, but the North East of Italy has many influences of Eastern European cuisine. This was one of the classic winter recipes I grew up with, and recently I was inspired to make it.
Why you will love this recipe
– It’s an ideal dinner idea, packed with nutrients and deliciousness.
– This easy cabbage rolls recipe requires only 11 ingredients.
– Everyone will love it, even your kids.
– You can customize it and I have a few suggestions…read on.
– You can cook it in batches so you have a delicious meal ready for those busy nights.
How to make cabbage rolls
1. Start by preparing the cabbage
Lay the cabbage upside down and remove its core. Then carefully remove the leaves and put them in hot boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain them and leave them to cool.
2. Proceed to the preparation of the filling:
Heat some EVOO in a pan, add the chopped onions and minced garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Add the pork mince and fry until evenly cooked through. Put the meat in a bowl, add the egg, parmesan, some breadcrumbs and parsley. Mix until everything is evenly mixed.
3. How to roll the cabbage into rolls
Now take a sheet of cabbage, place it seam side in, remove or smooth out the stem end and place 1/3 cup of the filling in the center. Roll up the side closest to you, then wrap and roll up the outer sides.
Place the pork stuffed cabbage rolls, seam side down, in a baking dish that you’ve buttered ahead of time.
3. Bake
Once all the stuffed cabbage rolls are in the pan, sprinkle them with breadcrumbs and parmesan and bake in a 360 degree oven for 30 minutes until the top is golden.
Easy Cabbage Rolls recipe substitutions and variations
You can use any type of meat: Beef or beef and turkey, beef and chicken are all great combinations.
Instead of savoy cabbage, you can use regular green or red cabbage. The red cabbage gives a nice hue, but its flavor is stronger, so it may not be for everyone.
As for variations, you can use some rice or spelt instead of breadcrumbs. This also makes this dish more balanced in terms of all the nutrients.
If you like, you can add a tomato sauce, either homemade or a good quality canned tomato sauce.
Other great cabbage recipes you might like:
Roasted Cauliflower with Asiago Cheese
How to serve stuffed cabbage rolls
This dish can be a main meal, accompanied by a side salad and some crusty bread or Rosemary Focaccia Bread. The correct portion would be 3-4 rolls per person.
Alternatively, you can serve it as an appetizer, in which case a roll is good, followed by a simple pasta dish.
How to store stuffed cabbage rolls
You can store the cabbage rolls in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Defrost them overnight and bake for 20 minutes.
Which wine to pair with Easy cabbage rolls
A good wine pairing would be a Friulano from Friuli. It is very popular in North East in Italy. It features notes of grapefruit and is a light-bodied wine that goes well with cabbage and pork.
Another, probably more intense, wine pairing is with Sauvignon Blanc from the Friuli region. Its fruity notes harmonize well with the richness of the cabbage rolls.
Ingredients
- 24 leaves savoy cabbage
- 2 cup onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1⅕ pound pork minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp sage
- 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Parmesan
- 2 unit egg
- 4 tbsp parsley
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp Parmesan
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper crushed
Instructions
PREPARE THE CABBAGE
- Lay the cabbage upside down and remove its core. Then carefully remove the leaves and boil them in water for 2-3 minutes. Drain them and leave them to cool.
PREPARE THE FILLING
- Heat some EVOO in a pan, add the chopped onions and minced garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Add the sage leaves.
- Add the pork mince and brown it until evenly cooked through, add 1 tsp salt. Put the meat in a food processor and mince it for a few pulse only.
- Add the egg, parmesan, some breadcrumbs, the remaining salt, 1 tsp crushed black pepper and parsley. Mix until everything is evenly mixed.
MAKE THE ROLLS
- Now take a sheet of cabbage, place it seam-side in, remove or smooth out the stem end and place 1/3 cup of the filling in the center.
- Roll up the side closest to you, then wrap and roll up the outer sides.
- Place the rolls, seam side down, in a baking dish that you've buttered ahead of time.
BAKE THE STUFFED ROLLS
- Once all the rolls are in the pan, sprinkle them with 2 tbsp breadcrumbs and 2 tbsp parmesan.
- Bake in a the oven at 360°F (180°C) for 30 minutes, until the top is golden.
Nutrition
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Aspetto fantastico gusto unico
Just tried , they were delicious. Can we also use a mix of meat and vegetables for the fillings? What would you recommend ?
Hi Stefano, it makes me happy to know that you tried this recipe! In terms of filling, you can definitely add vegetables. For example, a mix of onions, carrots and broccoli florets could be good, carrots and onions will bring a mellow taste to the dish. You could also add some rice, or quinoa to the filling. Let me know if you will try this variation!