Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
8 hrs
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Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
30
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Calories
136 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner
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Cuisine
Romanian
Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
Description
The Crockpot Cabbage Rolls recipe layers sour cabbage leaves, ground pork, rice, onion, dill, parsley, and seasonings into a slow cooker with tomato juice and smoked meat. The sour cabbage leaves require soaking in cold water to reduce saltiness before rolling the seasoned pork and rice filling. Cooking on low heat for eight hours melds flavors and softens the cabbage perfectly.
The filling combines pork, uncooked rice, and fresh herbs, which expand during cooking inside the cabbage leaves. The use of smoked bacon or sausage adds depth, while the tomato juice base keeps the rolls moist and tangy. The slow cooker allows a gentle, hands-off approach that slowly tenderizes the ingredients.
Cabbage rolls make a hearty main course often served as part of Eastern European meals. The recipe suggests alternatives for cabbage preparation such as blanching or freezing to soften fresh cabbage leaves if sour cabbage is unavailable.
Adjusting salt carefully is important since the sour cabbage carries saltiness. Using long-grain rice helps maintain texture after slow cooking. Tomato juice can be substituted with diluted tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes if necessary.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Cabbage leaves sour
- 2 pounds ground pork
- ½ cup rice long grain, uncooked, such as basmati or jasmine
- 1 large onion chopped or grated
- ¼ cup dill chopped, fresh
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 8 ounces Bacon or other smoked meats such as smoked sausage or hock
- 4 cups tomato juice
Instructions
- Add the sour cabbage leaves to a large bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Let the leaves soak in the water for few minutes. This will wash out some of the saltiness from the leaves. Drain the water. If some of the leaves are too big, cut them in half, if making smaller cabbage rolls.
- In a large bowl mix together the ground pork, rice, chopped onion, dill, parsley, salt and pepper. Use your hands to incorporate everything well together. Be careful with the salt, not too much is needed because the sour cabbage is already salty.
- Fill each leaf with about a couple tablespoon of the meat mixture and roll, tucking in the ends. Repeat with all the remaining meat and cabbage.
- If you have any cabbage left over, chop it up and spread it over the bottom of the crockpot. Arrange all the cabbage rolls in the crockpot. If adding smoked meat, add it now over the cabbage rolls.
- Pour all the tomato juice over the cabbage rolls. Cover the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Serve with polenta or mashed potatoes and a dollop of sour cream on top.
Notes
- Sour cabbage leaves can be found at European markets or grocery stores; fresh cabbage must be blanched or frozen to soften.
- Soaking cabbage leaves reduces their saltiness before preparing the rolls.
- Use long-grain rice like basmati or jasmine to maintain texture during slow cooking.
- Tomato juice may be replaced with diluted tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes if unavailable.
- Season salt cautiously to balance flavors with salty sour cabbage leaves.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 30Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 136 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cabbage roll | |
| Calories | 136kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 27mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 271mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 243mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 209IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 12mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 20mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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