# Give me some stuffed cabbage tips **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 2, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551 "2023-01-02T22:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/1 "2023-01-02T22:21:44Z")
I’m making stuffed cabbage for dinner. My recipe historically is pretty simple: ground meat, rice, and garlic rolled into cabbage leaves and braised slowly in a tomato-y chicken broth. I want to goose it up. What else can I mix in with the filling to make it more interesting? And ditto for the sauce. So far it’s just chicken broth, canned tomatoes, a little onion and bay leaves. I want to make it more lively. Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/2 "2023-01-02T22:30:29Z")
The Hungarian version also uses sauerkraut in the “sauce” portion of the stuffed rolls: > **[Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage](https://thebeachhousekitchen.com/hungarian-stuffed-cabbage/)** > > This Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage is a hearty comfort food dish made from ground pork and rice encased in cabbage and cooked in tomato sauce and sauerkraut. It's a delicious low-carb meal! I’ve usually made it pretty simply like you, though with onions instead of garlic. The Polish version is usually served with a tomato sauce, but you can also make mushroom sauce with it, or a creamy tomato sauce that has sour cream in it as well. I personally like it better with savoy cabbage than regular white cabbage. Also, you can use other grains instead of rice. My mother sometimes uses barley or buckwheat (our Christmas Eve stuffed cabbage is a mix of mushrooms and buckwheat.) ---
**Author:** ![nofloyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nofloyd/32/2870_2.png) [@nofloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nofloyd)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/3 "2023-01-02T22:43:38Z")
Add Caraway seeds to the mixture? I tend to do that when cabbage is involved. Long sliced Carrots tucked around when tomato sauce added on top. My mom used a can of tomato soup thinned with water. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/4 "2023-01-02T23:18:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The Hungarian version also uses sauerkraut in the “sauce” portion of the stuffed rolls: I do this as well. Also chopped onions or peppers in with the meat. Hot sauce on the table for those who want it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/5 "2023-01-02T23:24:57Z")
A bit of vinegar and sugar in the sauce is the way I always had it growing up (Jewish style). Last Rosh Hashanah, Costco carried a brand that was made this way. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/6 "2023-01-02T23:27:48Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I’m making stuffed cabbage for dinner. My recipe historically is pretty simple: ground meat, rice, and garlic rolled into cabbage leaves and braised slowly in a tomato-y chicken broth. I could use a basic recipe. I see cabbages dirt cheap at the grocery store and often find myself wondering what else I can do with them besides potentially make kimchi, which is too much for most of my family to eat. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/7 "2023-01-02T23:27:49Z")
My cousin made a ‘stuffed cabbage casserole’ with some kind of sausage instead of hamburger, wish I could remember what kind. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/8 "2023-01-02T23:32:23Z")
And the Romanian version of the dish uses sauerkraut leaves to roll the filling in, but that tends to be a bit difficult to come. I know I’ve seen it in some Eastern European markets, but I don’t think they are commonly available. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/9 "2023-01-02T23:44:54Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I see cabbages dirt cheap at the grocery store I’m constantly making coleslaw when the farm by us has cabbages, to the point where my gf becomes concerned. There are just so many different ways to make it! I’ll reach a point where I eat coleslaw for lunch, with dinner, as a snack. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/10 "2023-01-02T23:45:14Z")
I don’t do stuffed cabbage, but I have one quick and dirty side dish recipe that uses green or red cabbage, carrots, green onions and vinegar in a sautee and another that uses red cabbage, one or two tart crisp apples, onion, allspice and balsamic vinegar if you are interested in those. I make the latter ahead of time and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors meld. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/11 "2023-01-02T23:45:37Z")
I also add some raisins. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/12 "2023-01-02T23:54:16Z")
We put cabbage in our haluski. I also put some in our Colcannon, although I’ve been told that’s not kosher. ETA: if you make roasted root vegetables (turnips, beets, onions, carrots, parsnips, swedes, potatoes) add a wedge or three of cabbage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/13 "2023-01-03T00:06:00Z")
Yeah, my folks sometimes change up the meat depending on what leftovers they want to use up. They have a meat grinder, so my dad will grind up leftover ham or Canadian bacon or whatever smoked meat they have and mix it in with the ground pork or use it just on its own. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used some kind of smoked sausage in the past, but I’m not sure they’ve ever used a fresh sausage, but why not? ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/14 "2023-01-03T00:06:50Z")
Me, too! I was just going to post it! Probably too late for Kayaker for the batch he is working on now, but using wild rice instead of white or brown lends a nice texture and a little crunch. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/15 "2023-01-03T00:48:14Z")
My recipe: > **[Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup Recipe!](https://www.isavea2z.com/healthy-unstuffed-cabbage-rolls-recipe/#recipe)** > > CRAZY GOOD Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup and Keto Friendly! I make lots and freeze the leftovers. I can get 4 meals out of one batch. I tweak the recipe by adding more pepper flake, but it’s a pretty good “I’m not going to do all that work” dish. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/16 "2023-01-03T00:57:16Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > A bit of vinegar and sugar in the sauce is the way I always had it growing up (Jewish style). I’m not Jewish, but this is how my Hungarian grandmother made it. That little bit of sugar (I usually used brown) brings all the flavors together. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/17 "2023-01-03T00:59:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I also put some in our Colcannon, although I’ve been told that’s not kosher. I think cabbage in any English/Scots/Irish recipe is perfectly fine. Potatoes and cabbage are like peas n’ carrots :). Rumbledethumps uses them both, for example. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/18 "2023-01-03T01:13:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I also put some in our Colcannon, although I’ve been told that’s not kosher. Huh - I’ve never had colcannon _without_ cabbage in it. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/19 "2023-01-03T02:00:06Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Huh - I’ve never had colcannon _without_ cabbage in it. My recipe uses kale. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551/20 "2023-01-03T02:03:18Z")
Yeah, I think I’ve only had it with cabbage, though I’ve heard of kale or some other leafy green like chard being used. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-stuffed-cabbage-tips/977551.md?page=2)