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vegan stuffed cabbage rolls on plate

Easy Vegan Stuffed Cabbage Rolls


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  • Author: Sweet Simple Vegan
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12-16 cabbage rolls (serves 6-8) 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

These vegan stuffed cabbage rolls are filled with seasoned plant-based beef, rice, and vegetables, then baked in a rich tomato sauce. A comforting meal ready in under 2 hours!


Ingredients

Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ yellow onion, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • Pinch of sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Filling:

  • 24 oz vegan ground beef
  • ½ yellow onion, minced
  • 1 cup parboiled white rice
  • ¼ cup grated carrot
  • ¼ cup raisins (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Assembly:

  • 1 medium green cabbage
  • Fresh dill, chopped (for garnish)


Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:

  1. Sauté the onion. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and salt and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add garlic. Add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes or until fragrant.
  3. Build the sauce. Add the tomato sauce, vegetable broth, sugar, and black pepper. Stir together and bring to a simmer.
  4. Simmer and set aside. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust salt and black pepper to taste, then set aside.

Boil and Peel the Cabbage:

  1. Boil water. Fill half of a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil.
  2. Core the cabbage. Use a paring knife to carefully remove the core by cutting a cone-shaped hole into the base of the head, about 1-2 inches deep.  
  3. Boil and peel the cabbage. Very carefully place the whole head into the pot of boiling water. Flip it around a bit and cover. As it boils and steams, the leaves will be easier to remove. Uncover after 1-2 minutes, and gently peel off the softened outer leaves using kitchen tongs. Continue boiling, covering, and removing layers until you have enough leaves, about 16. 
  4. Cool. Set the cabbage leaves aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the pot from the heat, then either discard the remaining cabbage or use it in another recipe. 

Make the Filling:

  1. Mix filling. Add all of the filling ingredients, along with ½ cup of the prepared sauce, to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.

Assemble and Bake:

  1. Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Add sauce to the dish. Pour 1 cup of the sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it out evenly.
  3. Prepare the leaves. If the stems on the cabbage leaves are thick, shave them to make them thinner and more pliable.
  4. Fill and roll. Take about ¼ cup of the filling, shape it into an oval, and place it at the bottom of the cabbage leaf. Roll the bottom over the filling, fold in the sides, then roll it up like a burrito. Place it seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat until you’ve used all the filling (you should get 12-16 rolls).
  5. Add sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the cabbage rolls, making sure each roll is coated.
  6. Bake. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 60 minutes.
  7. Rest and serve. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with fresh dill and enjoy!

Notes

  • Parboiled rice is essential: Regular uncooked rice won’t cook through in the baking time. You can buy parboiled rice at most stores or online
  • Small leaves: Once you’ve gotten to the smaller leaves near the inside of the cabbage, you may need to overlap two leaves to create one large enough to hold the filling.
  • Make ahead: Assemble completely, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10-15 minutes to baking time if baking from cold.
  • Freezing: Freeze assembled unbaked rolls for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and bake as directed.
  • Leftovers: Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors deepen and improve over time.
  • Prep Time: 45 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 Minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Eastern European