Sweet & Sour Cabbage Rolls

Delight in these comforting stuffed cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice, simmered in a sweet and sour sauce, perfect for a hearty meal.

Lean ground turkey and brown rice seasoned with fresh dill and caraway seeds makes a moist filling for these stuffed cabbage rolls. They’re baked in a combination of tomato sauce, lemon juice and honey for the familiar sweet-and-sour flavor typical of the dish.

Prep/Cook Time:  Servings:

2 Hours  6

Ingredients

• Cabbage Rolls:

  • 1 large head of cabbage

  • 1 to 1½ lbs 93% ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)

  • 1 cup cooked rice (uncooked can also be used) or ½ cup brown rice

  • 1 to 1/2 onion, finely chopped

  • 2 large eggs

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or freshly ground pepper

  • 1 cup water or 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 6 tablespoons lemon juice, divided

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds

  • 1½ cups no-salt-added tomato sauce

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 cup golden raisins (optional for added sweetness)

• Sweet and Sour Sauce:

  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce or tomato puree

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (or vinegar)

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (optional for added flavor)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cabbage:

   • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove the core from the cabbage and gently place it into the boiling water. Remove the leaves carefully as they soften, typically taking about 10-15 minutes. Cool the leaves slightly and trim any tough stems at the base of each leaf.

     
     

2. Make the Filling:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, onions, eggs, salt, pepper, and raisins (if using). Mix until just combined.

     
     

3. Assemble the Rolls:

   • Place about 1-2 tablespoons of the filling onto each cabbage leaf. Roll the leaf up tightly, folding in the sides to seal the filling inside. Repeat until all filling is used.

     
     

4. Prepare the Sauce:

   • In a saucepan, mix the tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, salt, and allspice. Stir to combine and heat gently until the sugar is dissolved.

     
     

5. Cook the Cabbage Rolls:

   • In a large pot or baking dish, spread a layer of sauce on the bottom. Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down in a single layer, then cover them with the remaining sauce.

     
     

   • Cover the pot with a lid or foil, and cook on the stovetop over low heat for about 2.5 to 3 hours, or bake in a preheated oven at 325°F for 1.5 hours until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the cabbage is tender.

     
     

6. Serve:

   • Once cooked, carefully plate the cabbage rolls with some extra sauce poured over. You may garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

   
   
   
   

Tips and Variations

• For Extra Flavor:

  Add some crushed garlic or herbs such as thyme or dill in the filling for extra flavor.

  
  

• Substitutions:

  You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. If reducing carbs, consider using cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice.

  
  

  Garlic - 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or 3/4 teaspoon minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

  
  

  Lemon Juice - 1/2 teaspoon. vinegar

  
  

  Dill - 1 teaspoon dried dill

  
  

  Honey - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar with 1/4 cup water or apple juice or 7/8 cup buttermilk plus 2 tablespoon melted shortening, whipped or 1 cup corn syrup

• Sauce Variation:

  Some recipes use a mix of ketchup and chili sauce for a different sweet and sour taste.

Enjoy these delicious sweet and sour cabbage rolls, a perfect dish for family gatherings or a hearty weeknight dinner!

Nutritional facts

Calories	259	% Daily Value
Total Fat	8 g	10%
Cholesterol	43 mg	14%
Carbohydrate	31 g	11%
Fiber	7 g	25%
Sugar	9 g	18%
Sodium	387 mg	17%
Protein	20 g	40%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.