Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Publifood November 04, 2021

 

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Try this authentic Lebanese styled Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - also known as Malfouf - with step-by-step easy instructions to cook the recipe!


If you are a fan of my Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe, you should try these Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. The recipe uses the same stuffing, but with cabbage leaves instead. In Arabic, we call this recipe Malfouf, which translates to cabbage or we also called it Malfouf Mih-sheh, which translates to stuffed cabbage.


This is a traditional Lebanese recipe made by stuffing lightly cooked cabbage leaves with a mixture of rice, ground beef and spices. Then we cook the stuffed cabbage rolls all together in a pot with cumin and a lemon garlicky sauce. Yup, you will need 16 cloves of garlic for this recipe!




PREPARE THE CABBAGE LAVES

  • Place the cabbage head in a large pot of boiling water and loosen the leaves.
  • Cut the core out or leave the core in tact and use a knife to separate each leaf from the core.
  • Lay the cabbage leaves on a plate while working your way through the center of the cabbage.

PREPARE STUFFING (HASHWEH)

  • The Arabic word for stuffing is hashweh, and there are many variations of stuffing you can use for the cabbage rolls. The simple version is to brown the ground beef and season it.
  • Then fold in the uncooked rice and the stuffing is ready. Be sure to also check out my vegetarian version with no meat that you can use for the cabbage rolls.


STUFF AND ROLL THE CABBAGE LEAVES

  • Lay a cabbage leaf flat on a cutting board, add the beef and rice mixture into the center of the cabbage leaf.
  • Tuck one side, then fold over the cabbage leaf over the stuffing.
  • Continue to tuck and roll to make sure it’s secure.
  • You can squeeze the cabbage roll after you roll it to help secure it. Depending on the head of cabbage you have, you’ll make about 30-35 rolls.


COOK THE STUFFED CABBAGE (MALFOUF)

  • Layer the bottom of the pot with the stems of the cabbage to help ensure that the leaves don’t touch the bottom of the pot, which can result is charred leaves. Then Layer the the cabbage rolls all around the pot.
  • Add garlic, cumin and fresh tomatoes either on each layer or on the top of all the layers and make sure to season with salt and pepper.
  • Place a heavy round plate on top of the cabbage rolls to help keep them in place while cooking and add enough water to cover the rolls in the pot. Then you’re ready to cook it.



The top layer is especially important, so be sure to alternate directions of the stuffed cabbage rolls. You can also add more tomato slices here in between the rolls along with green pepper (which is completely optional). Don’t forget the sliced garlic and the cumin in each layer.





It will take some time to cook the stuffed cabbage rolls, starting at a medium temperature and the decreasing to a low temperature for a longer period of time. You’ll know they’re cooked when the leaves are super tender, yellow-ish in color and most of the sauce is absorbed.

TIPS FOR MAKING STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

  1. Turn over the cabbage head in the pot of simmering water as necessary. This ensures that all parts of the cabbage get exposure to the boiling water so they peel off easier. If you try to peel the leaves away and the cabbage is too raw, the leaves will tear.
  2. Don’t over boil the cabbage leaves. You want the leaves to be pliable enough to fold over, but not overly soft since you’ll be cooking them later. If you find really large leaves or ones with thick stems in the middle, make sure to cut those in half.
  3. Remove the thick stem from the middle of the leaves. This is not mandatory, but it helps them roll easier and you can use those thick parts for lining the bottom of the pot.
  4. Don’t over stuff the leaves. Remember that the stuffing contains uncooked rice that will expand once cooked. So use two heaping tablespoons per leaf and spread it out into a thin line over the middle of the cabbage leaf.
  5. Squeeze the stuffed cabbage rolls after rolling them. Roll them tightly enough so that it doesn’t unravel while cooking, but make sure to also squeeze them afterwards which just helps the cabbage leaves mold around the rice mixture and stay in place.
  6. Place the rolls with the greenest leaves on the bottom of the pot. They will need more heat and a longer time to cook well, so this tip will help if you can remember that.
  7. Allow time to rest before serving. Of course, you’ll need a taste test when the timer goes off. But before transferring the cabbage leaves to a serving dish, allow them to rest for half an hour in the pot to absorb any remaining liquid and set. This also helps prevent any from unrolling accidentally.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What type of cabbage is best to use?

You want to use green cabbage but look for the ones that have soft wide leaves with minimal stems. on the outer layers. They are not always easy to find, but they are easier to work with than the standard green cabbage you find all year round.

How I make the rolls vegetarian?

You can easily make these stuffed cabbage rolls vegetarian by substituting the ground beef for onions, tomatoes and parsley mixture. It’s the same stuffing I use for my Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves.

Can I make stuffed cabbage with brown rice?

I have not tried it myself because I’ve heard of poor results. Brown rice needs extra cooking time as compared to white rice. That extra cooking time can result in overcooking the cabbage. If you do try it, instant brown rice might be your best option.










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