Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls are hearty comfort food at its best!

Have you ever had stuffed cabbage rolls with sauerkraut?

It’s a classic Hungarian dish that takes some time to prepare, but the result?

Stuffed Cabbage rolls add tomato puree to stuffed cabbage rolls in the pot

Elise Bauer

What Are Stuffed Cabbage Rolls?

They are typically served with a sour cream-based sauce with plenty of sauerkraut.

This is comfort food at its best.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Elise Bauer

It’s no wonder this dish never goes out of style.

Making the sauce is easy.

Just remove the cooked cabbage rolls from the pot and stir sour cream into the tomato-infused sauerkraut.

boil a head of cabbage for making stuffed cabbage

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Serve the stuffed cabbage rolls with the sauce.

(Been there, done that.)

What Kind of Sauerkraut to Use?

peel off cooked cabbage leaves from the cooked head of cabbage for stuffed cabbage rolls

Elise Bauer

Can I Make Ahead and Freeze Cabbage Rolls?

Put in the freezer.

They’ll last about a month in the freezer.

make pork stuffing for stuffed cabbage rolls

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Let them defrost overnight in the fridge before cooking with the sauerkraut and tomato.

Cabbage Is Good Food!

ensure you taste test your paprika for cooking with it in this recipe.

place pork stuffing in cabbage for stuffed cabbage rolls

Elise Bauer

Cook the rice while preparing the cooked cabbage.

Caraway seeds can also be used to season the stuffing in this recipe.

Recipe adapted fromThe Cooking of Vienna’s Empire, Time Life Books, By Joseph Wechsberg, 1968.

fold cabbage leave edges over pork stuffing to roll up for stuffed cabbage

Elise Bauer

Out of print, but often available on eBay.

Squeeze out excess moisture and set aside.

Add the whole green cabbage to the boiling water.

continue rolling up cabbage for stuffed cabbage rolls

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Remove the cabbage from the water and let drain until it is cool enough to handle.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.

When the oil is hot, add the onions and saute them until translucent and beginning to color.

finish rolling up cabbage rolls

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Add the garlic and cook half a minute longer.

Mix with your clean hands or a wooden spoon until just combined.

Start at the thick end of the leaf and fold the sides of the cabbage over the stuffing.

layer sauerkraut in a pot for stuffed cabbage rolls

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Then roll up the whole cabbage leaf into a tight bundle.

Repeat with the remaining leaves until you have used up all of your stuffing.

Place the cabbage rolls on top of the sauerkraut.

add the stuffed cabbage rolls on top of the sauerkraut

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Mix the cup of water with the cup of tomato puree and pour over the cabbage rolls.

Remove the stuffed cabbage rolls from the pot and place on a warm dish.

Slowly stir the sour cream into the sauerkraut.

simmer stuffed cabbage rolls for an hour or until done

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Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 5 minutes.

Use a slotted spoon to lift the creamy sauerkraut sauce onto a serving platter.

Arrange the stuffed cabbage rolls on top of the sauerkraut and spoon some sauce over them as well.

add sour cream to sauerkraut to make sauce for stuffed cabbage rolls

Elise Bauer

Serve remaining sauce on the side.