Vegan sour cabbage rolls with a sweet-sour filling with rice, walnuts, and raisins are the perfect vegan sauerkraut recipe for the holiday season.
Sweet-and-sour, comforting delight; I love these sour cabbage rolls so much. After we had lunch the day I made them, I kept taking the lid off the pot every now and put a cold roll into my mouth. They are so good, you really can't stop eating them.
This vegan sauerkraut recipe is a typical Romanian fasting time recipe. The traditional and best Romanian cabbage rolls – Sarmale are made with pork and rice and lots of spices, but many Romanian people are very religious and respect the Orthodox fasting time tradition, which won't allow the consumption of meat or any animal products for quite long periods of time in the year.
People got creative when it came to vegan cooking. There are so many simple and delicious traditional vegan recipes in the Romanian kitchen that one could hardly believe it, considering our immense love for anything pork.
Some of my favorite fasting times recipes and dishes that I keep cooking on repeat, although I am not actually ever seriously fasting, are this Vegan Tomato Rice, the Vegan Vegetable Pilaf, or this Soy Granules Stew.
Sour cabbage or sweet cabbage?
In the previous post, Vegan Sweet Potato Cabbage Rolls, I explained the way of working with sauerkraut or fermented cabbage.
However, if you are unable to buy whole heads of fermented cabbage where you live, these rolls can also be made with fresh/sweet cabbage.
How to soften fresh cabbage leaves for rolling?
When using a whole head of fresh cabbage,, you must soften the leaves before forming the rolls.
- To do that, you start by removing the cabbage's core. First, cut away the protruding part of the core. Then, make incisions with a small sharp knife around the core, about 4-6 incisions around the core.
- Try to loosen the core by cutting through it from one incision to the other, like making lots of X signs. When the core is loose enough, remove it piece by piece, cutting it here and there to make it looser.
- Fill a large pot with hot water. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt and a good splash of white wine vinegar when the water boils. Carefully place the cabbage into the water, first with the hole facing down.
- Cook it for 10-15 minutes, then turn it in and remove the leaves. You will do that with two forks, scratching and pulling at the edges of the hole. If they don't come off easily, continue cooking the cabbage until they do. Be careful not to scald your hands with the boiling water.
- You can only remove one or two layers of leaves at a time, so patience is required. Keep turning the cabbage in the pot from time to time.
- After removing some leaves, drain and cool them in a large colander. Continue cooking the rest of the cabbage until you can remove all the leaves. The leaves should be really pliable.
How to fill and roll the sauerkraut leaves?
- Place a leaf on a chopping board.
- Remove the lower part of the leaf, where the stem is very thick.
- Cut the larger leaves into halves, in the middle where the thick stem is. Discard the thick stem, but only in the case of the larger leaves that you split in half.
- Leave the smaller leaves whole, but trim the thick stem as well as possible so that the leaves will be easy to roll.
- Place one leaf on the working surface.
- Place a little filling, more or less, in the middle of the leaf.
- Fold the lower part of the leaf over, then one side of the leaf over the filling, then the other side of the leaf over.
- Roll the leaf and tuck in the open end of the leaf.
- If some of the leaves are too small you can build a roll from two leaves, nicely arranged on top of each other.
More tips
I recommend using round grain rice when making cabbage or sauerkraut rolls, I tried them with long grain rice as well, but I think that the round grain rice is much more suitable, it is softer and more comforting when cooked in a roll.
If there is too much leftover sauerkraut after making the rolls, you don't have to use it all for this dish. Place it in a plastic container or jar and keep it in the fridge. You can use it to make a soup or a Polish sauerkraut stew, for instance, during the following week.
How to store cabbage rolls?
The sour cabbage rolls keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat them in a small pot and add a splash of water when reheating.
They can also be frozen in airtight containers for up to three months.
How to serve?
I generally serve cabbage or sauerkraut rolls with crusty white bread. You can also serve them with boiled potatoes.
Top with a dollop of coconut or soy yogurt if keeping the dish vegan or with Greek yogurt, sour cream, or smetana for a non-vegan version.
More Sauerkraut recipes
Recipe
Sour Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1,5 kg/ 3.3 lbs whole head of sauerkraut/ fermented cabbage See notes
- 100 g/ 3.5 oz/ ⅔ cup raisins
- 200 g/ 7 oz/ 1 cup short-grain rice
- 1 large onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 100 g/ 3.5 oz/ ¾ cup ground walnuts
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste divided
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 4 bay leaves
- dried thyme or savory
- dried dill seeds optional
- fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
Prepare sour cabbage:
- Remove the core of the sauerkraut head by cutting around it with a small sharp knife and scraping it out. Release the leaves and place them in a large bowl filled with cold water. Let soak for one hour.
Filling:
- In the meantime prepare the filling. Place the raisins in a bowl, cover with warm water, and let soak while you prepare the rest.
- Wash and drain the rice.
- Chop the onion finely. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion for about 2 minutes.
- Add the rice and cook stirring often for about 3 minutes until the rice is shiny and all coated in oil. Take off the heat.
- Drain and chop the raisins and add them to the rice. Add the ground walnuts, 1 tablespoon of the tomato paste, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
Rolls:
- Drain and rinse the cabbage leaves. Place them on a chopping board, one at a time, and remove the lower part of the leaf, where the stem is very thick. Cut the larger leaves into halves, in the middle where the thick stem is. Discard the thick stem but only in the case of the larger leaves that you split in half. Leave the smaller leaves whole, but trim the thick stem as good as possible so that the leaves will be easy to roll.
- Place one leaf on the working surface, place a little filling more or less in the middle of the leaf.
- Fold the lower part of the leaf over, then one side of the leaf over the filling, then the other side of the leaf over. Roll the leaf and tuck in the open end of the leaf.
- If some of the leaves are too small you can build a roll from two leaves, nicely arranged on top of each other.
Assemble and cook:
- Chop the middle of the sauerkraut (the leaves that are too small to fill) and all leftover pieces into fine stripes.
- Place about half of the chopped sour cabbage on the bottom of a heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven. Add 2 bay leaves, the thyme or savory, and the dill seeds, if you have them.
- Arrange the sauerkraut rolls on top of the chopped cabbage. Add the remaining bay leaves and some more thyme/savory and dill seeds. Top with another layer of chopped cabbage.
- In a small pot whisk together the remaining tablespoon of tomato paste and enough hot water to hold the sauerkraut rolls.
- Carefully pour the tomato water into the pot. Add more hot water, if you don't have enough from the beginning, the rolls should be almost covered with water.
- Cover the pot, bring to a boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer for one hour.
- Shortly before the hour is up, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the lid from the pot and place the uncovered pot into the hot oven. Bake for 40 – 50 minutes until the rolls are nicely colored and really soft inside.
Notes
- You can use fresh cabbage as well. Read the blog post for instructions on preparing the fresh cabbage leaves for stuffing.
- If there is too much leftover sauerkraut, you don't have to use it all for this dish. Place it in a plastic container or jar and keep it in the fridge. You can use it to make a soup or a salad, for instance, during the following week.
Teresa says
very good!
Is it best to cook them before freezing if making them ahead for a big dinner? Or can they be frozen prior to baking?
Adina says
Hi Teresa. I didn't freeze the rolls, but I think you could do it either way.
Billy says
I love this! These rolls remind me of spring rolls, I can't wait to make them at home! Sauerkraut is not usually a common ingredient i'd imagine using, but definitely going to try making these!
Adina says
I hope you will like them just as much as I do. They are addictive, I could not stop eating them all day long, I even liked them cold. ?
Marvellina | What To Cook Today says
OMG! I wish I could taste this! I love sauerkraut and just talked about it to my husband that I haven't had it for a while. It's not common in our cuisine, but I got hooked when I made pig knuckles and ate them with sauerkraut few years ago!!!!