World Cabbage Rolls: Four Traditional Styles from Around the Globe

Cabbage rolls are one of those timeless comfort foods that appear in many cultures, each shaped by local ingredients, flavors, and family traditions. Below are four beloved cabbage roll styles — Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Greek, and German — all made with tender cabbage leaves and hearty fillings, yet each with its own distinct personality.

✨ FEATURED RECIPES: WORLD CABBAGE ROLLS ✨

🟥 1️⃣ Middle Eastern Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients
1 large cabbage
1½ lb ground beef or lamb
2¼ cups cooked rice
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
Salt & pepper
⅓ cup lemon juice
1½ cups broth
Fresh parsley

Instructions
Boil cabbage until leaves soften; trim thick veins.
Mix meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic, spices, salt & pepper.
Roll filling tightly in cabbage leaves.
Place in pot or baking dish, add lemon juice and broth.
Cover and cook at 350°F for 75–90 minutes or gently simmer.
Finish with fresh parsley and extra lemon.

🟩 2️⃣ Eastern European Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients
1 large cabbage
1 lb ground beef + ½ lb ground pork (or all beef)
2¼ cups cooked rice
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
Salt & pepper
2 cups tomato sauce
½ cup broth

Instructions
Soften cabbage leaves and trim veins.
Mix meat, cooked rice, onion, garlic, paprika, salt & pepper.
Roll tightly and arrange seam-side down.
Pour tomato sauce and broth over rolls.
Cover and bake at 350°F for 90 minutes.
Serve with sour cream or dill if desired.

🟨 3️⃣ Greek Cabbage Rolls (Lahanodolmades)

Ingredients
1 large cabbage
1½ lb ground chicken
2¼ cups cooked rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley
Salt & pepper
2 cups light broth

Avgolemono Sauce
2 eggs
¼ cup lemon juice

Instructions
Boil cabbage and separate leaves.
Mix chicken, cooked rice, onion, dill, parsley, salt & pepper.
Roll and place in pot; add broth.
Simmer gently or bake covered at 350°F for 75 minutes.
Whisk eggs with lemon, temper with hot broth, then gently pour over rolls.
Warm carefully — do not boil.

🟦 4️⃣ German Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients
1 large cabbage
1½ lb ground pork or beef
1½ cups cooked rice
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp mustard
Salt & pepper
2 cups beef broth
1 onion, sliced

Instructions
Soften cabbage leaves and trim veins.
Mix meat, cooked rice, diced onion, mustard, salt & pepper.
Roll and place seam-side down.
Scatter sliced onion around rolls, add broth.
Cover and bake at 350°F for 90 minutes.
Serve with pan gravy and caramelized onions.

🥬 A Comfort Food Shared Around the World

From lemony and light to rich and hearty, cabbage rolls tell a story of culture, tradition, and home cooking. Each version brings its own warmth to the table — and every one is worth trying.