Grandma’s Cabbage Rolls
New Year’s is a time for reflection, celebration, and tradition. For me, it’s a moment to connect with my family’s past by preparing a dish that has been passed down through generations—cabbage rolls. This recipe comes from my great-grandmother, who lovingly made these for me, and cooking it each year has become my special way of honoring her memory.
One of my most cherished new years memories as a child was walking to the grocery store with my grandmother to pick out the perfect cabbage. Once she made her selection, she’d pull a loose leaf off the cabbage and hand it to me. “A hat for the walk home,” she’d say with a smile. Wearing that cabbage leaf on my head, I felt both silly and special, and it’s a memory I carry with me every time I prepare this dish. Every time I make cabbage rolls, I feel a deep connection to my great-grandmother and the traditions she passed down. This dish is more than just a meal—it’s a way to keep her memory alive.
Cabbage has long been associated with New Year’s traditions in many cultures, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Its green leaves resemble paper money, making it a popular dish for those who hope to usher in wealth and abundance in the year ahead. In Eastern European households, cabbage is often a staple ingredient in celebratory dishes like stuffed rolls or sauerkraut, representing a connection to the earth, hard work, and family heritage. Including cabbage in a New Year’s meal is a delicious way to honor tradition while wishing for a prosperous year to come.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turns out! Did you make any adjustments? Do you have your own family food traditions to share? Leave a comment and let’s swap stories.
Here’s to starting the New Year with full hearts, full bellies, and a nod to the past. Happy cooking!
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tbsp cooking oil
1 can tomato sauce
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 finely chopped yellow onion
3 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp paprika
2 tsp allspice
1 tbsp allspice
1/4 cup white vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Rolls:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup white rice
1 finely chopped onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 egg
1 head of cabbage
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Prepare the sauce: Heat cooking oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until caramelized. Stir in the garlic, followed by the remaining sauce ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer while you prepare the rolls.
Prepare the cabbage: Loosen the cabbage leaves by blanching the head in boiling water or freezing it ahead of time. Freezing works wonders—it softens the leaves without the risk of burns.
Make the stuffing: Combine the ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and egg in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly with your hands until well combined.
Assemble the rolls: Chop any leftover cabbage leaves and spread them across the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish. Spoon the filling into each cabbage leaf, roll tightly, and place the rolls seam-side down in the dish. Rolling the cabbage roll should be similar to rolling a burrito.
Add the sauce: Pour the hot sauce over the rolls, ensuring each one is covered. Cover the dish with foil.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 1-2 hours, until the rolls are tender and the flavors have melded.
*note that my grandmother cooked these in a stock pot on the stove. I find them easier to cook in the oven and serve out of a baking dish.