Best 7 Grandmas German Cabbage Rolls Recipes

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In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes can rival the heartwarming comfort of Grandma's German Cabbage Rolls. This classic dish is a symphony of flavors and textures, featuring tender cabbage leaves lovingly wrapped around a savory filling of seasoned ground beef, rice, and aromatic spices. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, this step-by-step guide will lead you through the process of creating these delectable cabbage rolls, ensuring a culinary journey that's both enjoyable and rewarding.

This article presents a comprehensive collection of recipes that cater to various dietary preferences and cooking styles. From the traditional German cabbage rolls simmered in a rich tomato sauce to the lighter and healthier turkey cabbage rolls, each recipe offers a unique twist on this beloved dish. Vegetarian and vegan enthusiasts will delight in the savory lentil and mushroom cabbage rolls, while those seeking a gluten-free option can indulge in the buckwheat and quinoa cabbage rolls.

So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary adventure as we delve into the secrets of making Grandma's German Cabbage Rolls. Let's savor the moment as we transform simple ingredients into a feast that will warm your heart and tantalize your palate.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GERMAN CABBAGE ROLLS (KRAUTWICKEL)



German Cabbage Rolls (krautwickel) image

This German cabbage roll recipe is full of meaty flavor and includes its own gravy. This delicious dinner is very versatile and freezer friendly. Perfect home cooking.

Provided by Brigitte Cox

Categories     Main Dishes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 22

20 large green cabbage leaves (1 or 2 Large cabbages) you will have leftover cabbage
Meat Filling Ingredients:
2 lb. Hamburger (may mix 50/50 with moose or pork)
1 1/2 Cups crumbled stale french bread (with enough water to soak it)
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. Maggi sauce
1 1/4 white onion-diced fine
1 Cup fresh parsley-dice fine
1 Tablespoon bacon grease (or avocado oil) as needed
2 Tablespoons Peanut oil (or avocado oil) as needed
Gravy Ingredients:
4 Cups Beef Broth
4 Cups water
1/4 Cup Brown Gravy Mix
1 tsp. salt
1 Tsp. pepper
1 tsp. paprika
2 Tablespoon Conrstarch
1 1/2 Tablespoon dijon Mustard

Steps:

  • MAKE THE MEAT FILLING:
  • Saute chopped Onion in bacon grease over medium heat until glossy and transparent,
  • Soak the bread in enough water to thoroughly wet it and make it soggy and waterlogged. Then squeeze out the excess water and set aside.
  • In a large bowl set the meat, maggi sauce, eggs, cooked onion, and soaked bread crumbs.
  • Pour all the dry meat filling ingredients over the meat and mix by hand like a meatloaf.
  • TEST THE FLAVOR:
  • Pan fry a small bit of meat until done to test for flavor. If you need to adjust the seasonings do it now and mix again by hand.
  • Set a large pot on the stove 2/3 Full of water. Bring to boiling while shaping the meat rolls.
  • Shape into 3 x 2 inch sausage shapes. Set Aside. You should get about 18 to 20 meat rolls.
  • COOK CABBAGE LEAVES:
  • Set the cabbage into the boiling water and as the leaves soften and get tender.
  • GENTLY pull the leaves off with tongs one at a time as the cabbage cooks.
  • USE ONLY THE BIG LEAVES. (you may need two heads of cabbage to keep the leaf size large.)
  • Lay the leaves on a large paper towel to drain.
  • Soften the large tough vein of the leaves with a meat mallet so the leafs will roll.
  • FOLD THE CABBAGE ROLLS:
  • Lay the leaf out on a large flat surface like a table or cutting board.
  • Set a meat roll INTO THE CENTER of the leaf.
  • Fold the cabbage leaf up from the bottom to cover the meat roll.
  • Bring each side of the leaf up and over the meat.
  • Now roll the cabbage roll up to the top of the cabbage leaf.
  • Repeat for all leaves until the meat rolls are used.
  • TIE THE CABBAGE ROLLS
  • Using Kitchen Twine tie the rolls up and knot them on each end (per Video).
  • This is all done with one continuous piece of twine as shown so the rolls can be evenly browned without falling apart. So make sure they are well secured.
  • BROWN THE CABBAGE ROLLS:
  • Set your frying pan on medium heat
  • Add 2 Tablespoons of Peanut oil (or your favorite high heat safe oil).
  • Brown the cabbage rolls on ALL sides for best flavor.
  • Simmer the cabbage rolls 40 minutes with 4 cups of beef broth and 4 cups of water.
  • MAKE THE GRAVY:
  • Remove cabbage rolls to serving platter or large casserole dish leave the broth in the pan.
  • Whisk together the dry ingredients and add water to make a loose paste.
  • Pour into the beef broth and whisk over medium high heat until boiling.
  • Boil while whisking two minutes or until thick as you like.
  • SERVE:
  • Cut the strings and remove from the cabbage rolls.
  • Pour 2 cups of the gravy over the cabbage rolls.
  • Pour the remaining gravy into a gravy server and serve on the side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 431 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 grams carbohydrates, Fat 35.9 grams fat, Fiber 2.4 grams fiber, Protein 16.4 grams protein, ServingSize 1 cabbage roll with gravy

GREAT GRANDMA'S STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS



Great Grandma's Stuffed Cabbage Rolls image

This is a past down recipe from my great grandma Plazsic. My daughter requested me to put this on recipezaar so she could always look it up to make them...

Provided by CIndytc

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 3h

Yield 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 large head of cabbage
2 cups white rice, cooked
1 1/2 lbs raw ground sirloin or 1 1/2 lbs ground round
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 raw eggs
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
oregano
kosher salt
4 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
tomato juice (optional)

Steps:

  • Core head of cabbage by cutting around the core and removing as much as possible. Boil large pot of water (fill pot only 1/4 or 1/2 full -- when boiling put cabbage into water and cover with top. Leave cabbage in water and every so often as leaves loosen up remove leaves and place in collander in sink to cool -- when all leaves are removed turn off water and throw away -- (if you have any little pieces of cabbage left at end of core, you can save them to place on top of leaves if you would like.
  • In a large bowl mix cooked rice, ground meat, onion, garlic, raw eggs 1/2 can tomato sauce and oregano and a little pinch of kosher salt. Mix well with your hands --.
  • Spray 9 X 13 inch pans with Pam. Take cabbage leaves and fill with 1/4 to 1/2 cup meat mixture (depending on how big hour leaves are). Place with seam side down in pans -- Turn oven on 350 degrees. Make up sauce (depending on how many rolls you get from your cabbage and how much sauce you want,you can use between 4 to 6 cans of diced or stewed tomatoes for your sauce), if you like cabbage rolls to have more sauce, you can add a little tomato juice to your sauce. Pour sauce over top of rolls. Sprinkle with kosher salt over top of rolls.
  • Bake uncovered to 2 1/2 hours or until browned on top, you may need to add a tomato juice to them once in a while so they do not dry out --.
  • Freezes well.

CABBAGE ROLLS, GRANDMA'S RECIPE



Cabbage Rolls, Grandma's Recipe image

Grandma didn't make these often but when she did we all loved them. Old fashioned cabbage rolls take a lot of time and have to cook for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (depending on how many you cook and how closely they are packed into the pan), so don't plan on making them if you are in a hurry. This is a dish best made by a group or...

Provided by Kathie Carr

Categories     Beef

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 15

8 large whole cabbage leaves
1 large sweet onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 can(s) (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes (grandma used home canned)
2 clove garlic, minced
2 c water
FILLING:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb bulk sausage
1/2 c diced sweet onion
1 Tbsp salt (less if you prefer)
1 tsp pepper
1/2-1 tsp garlic salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 c tomato paste
1 1/2 c cooked rice

Steps:

  • 1. Steam or microwave the cabbage leaves until tender. Let cool. Cut out a 2- to 3-inch wedge of the tough stalk from the bottom of the leaves, taking care to leave the rest intact. Set aside.
  • 2. Coat the bottom of a large Dutch oven with vegetable (I use olive) oil and place over medium heat. Add onions and toss to coat. Cover and cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and translucent. Add tomatoes, garlic cloves, and water. Simmer about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • 3. Meanwhile, stir together the ground beef, sausage, diced onions, salt, pepper, garlic, egg, tomato paste, and rice. Divide meat mixture into 8 portions. Place each meat portion at the curled tip of a cabbage leaf. Fold the top of the leaf down over the stuffing, fold the sides of the cabbage leaves in toward the center, and roll up to enclose the filling.
  • 4. Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a deep, heavy pan, skillet, or Dutch oven. Top with the tomato sauce. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat about 1 ½ hour. Depending on how close together the rolls are and how big your pan is these may take up to 2 ½ hours. If you double the recipe it is better to cook them in two batches. It is very important to be sure the meat is thoroughly cooked.

GRANDMA'S CABBAGE ROLLS



Grandma's Cabbage Rolls image

Hearty and heartwarming, these traditional cabbage rolls are nothing short of delicious. Toasted rye bread and polenta make lovely accompaniments.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 6h45m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 large head cabbage, cored
1 egg
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup uncooked converted rice
1 tablespoon snipped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried savory or thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
2 cups sauerkraut, rinsed, well drained and chopped
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
6 bacon strips, chopped
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth

Steps:

  • Cook cabbage in boiling water just until outer leaves pull away easily from head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls. Refrigerate remaining cabbage for another use. Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each leaf, making a V-shaped cut., In a large bowl, combine the egg, onion, rice, dill, paprika, savory, salt and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Place 1/3 cup meat mixture on a cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides. Beginning from the cut end, roll up. Repeat with remaining cabbage leaves and filling., Combine the sauerkraut, tomatoes and bacon. Spoon half into a 6-qt. slow cooker. Arrange six cabbage rolls, seam side down, over sauerkraut mixture. Top with remaining sauerkraut mixture and rolls. Add broth to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until a thermometer inserted in rolls reads 160°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 227 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 61mg cholesterol, Sodium 620mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 16g protein.

GRANDMA JEANETTE'S AMAZING GERMAN RED CABBAGE



Grandma Jeanette's Amazing German Red Cabbage image

This yummy, sweet and sour German red cabbage is easy to make!

Provided by Sara Nolan Jennings

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables

Time 1h50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons butter
5 cups shredded red cabbage
1 cup sliced green apples
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons water
¼ cup white sugar
2 ¼ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

  • Place butter, cabbage, apples, and sugar into a large pot. Pour in the vinegar and water, and season with salt, pepper, and clove.
  • Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the cabbage is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 147.6 calories, Carbohydrate 23.6 g, Cholesterol 15.3 mg, Fat 6 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 1.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 1374.6 mg, Sugar 19.2 g

GERMAN CABBAGE ROLLS



German Cabbage Rolls image

Make and share this German Cabbage Rolls recipe from Food.com.

Provided by MuddyBoy

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 6h

Yield 16-20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

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
1 garlic clove, at the least, more is at your discretion
1 cup dry measure half cooked long-grain rice
tomato soup or tomato juice, depends on how tangy you prefer the end product

Steps:

  • Prep - cook the rice until half done. Set aside to cool.
  • Sour cabbage is just that, sour. Very tangy, soaking the head in cold water will tone down tang. Separating the leaves and soaking the leaves will mellow the taste even more.
  • Allow all meat come to room temperature. Or at least till the chill is off.
  • Mince onion, garlic and bacon. Keep these separate and divide the garlic in half.
  • In a large bowl combine beef, pork and bacon along with the rice, onions, half the garlic and spices as desired.
  • Gently mix vegetable and spices with meat.
  • To make rolls take one leaf, Place a dollop of the meat mixture on leaf. Fold bottom of leaf up over meat then fold sides in and roll.
  • Place rolls in a roaster or dutch oven. Add the tomatoey stuff and enough water to just cover the rolls.
  • While the rolls can be cooked at 350f for a couple of hours and turn out quite edible, cooking at 250f for 5-6 hours will produce a mellower flavour and more tender cabbage and is recommended.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 214.2, Fat 13.2, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 53.8, Sodium 213.9, Carbohydrate 7.1, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 2.3, Protein 16.4

OLD-FASHIONED CABBAGE ROLLS



Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls image

It was an abundance of dill in my garden that led me to try this. My family liked the taste so much that, from then on, I made my old-fashioned cabbage rolls recipe with dill. This is how to make easy cabbage rolls. - Florence Krantz, Bismarck, North Dakota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h55m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 medium head cabbage (3 pounds)
1/2 pound uncooked ground beef
1/2 pound uncooked ground pork
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon snipped fresh dill or dill weed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Steps:

  • Cook cabbage in boiling water just until outer leaves pull away easily from head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls. In a small bowl, combine the beef, pork, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, onion, rice, parsley, salt, dill and cayenne; mix well., Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each leaf, making a V-shaped cut. Place about 1/4 cup meat mixture on a cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides. Beginning from the cut end, roll up. Repeat., Slice the remaining cabbage; place in a Dutch oven. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam side down over sliced cabbage. Combine the tomatoes, sugar and remaining tomato sauce; pour over the rolls. Cover and bake at 350° until cabbage rolls are tender, 1-1/2 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 50mg cholesterol, Sodium 694mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh cabbage leaves. If you can't find fresh cabbage, you can use frozen cabbage leaves, but be sure to thaw them completely before using.
  • To make the cabbage leaves more pliable, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes before filling them.
  • Be careful not to overfill the cabbage leaves, or they will burst during cooking.
  • Use a large pot to cook the cabbage rolls so that they have plenty of room to simmer.
  • Serve the cabbage rolls with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a salad.

Conclusion:

Grandma's German Cabbage Rolls are a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you like your cabbage rolls with ground beef, pork, or a combination of both, you are sure to enjoy this classic German dish.

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