Cabbage Rolls: Should You Add Cheese?

do you put cheese on cabbage rolls

Cabbage rolls are a delicious comfort food, but they can be time-consuming to make. One way to save time is to make a casserole, which has all the flavors of cabbage rolls in one dish. Another option is to make cabbage rolls with rice and meat, such as beef or turkey, and add cheese to the mix. You can use mozzarella, Monterey Jack, cheddar, or a blend of cheeses. Adding cheese to cabbage rolls is a tasty way to put a twist on this traditional dish.

Characteristics Values
Dish Type Casserole, Rolls, Shells
Cheese Type Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Cream Cheese, Parmesan, Ricotta
Meat Beef, Turkey, Sausage
Other Ingredients Rice, Tomato Sauce, Garlic, Onion, Spices

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Ricotta-stuffed cabbage rolls

To prepare the cabbage, start by removing the core of the cabbage head and boiling it for a few seconds. The outer leaves should now be easy to peel away. If you reach a layer that is difficult to remove, just place the head back into the boiling water.

For the sauce, you can use a meat sauce flavoured with red pepper, red wine, Italian seasoning, and oregano. You can also add chicken stock or water if you don't want to use red wine.

For the filling, brown some ground turkey (or beef) and mix it with ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, an egg, and some seasonings. You can also add spinach to the mix for extra flavour and nutrition.

To assemble the cabbage rolls, place a spoonful of the filling onto a cabbage leaf and roll it up, tucking in the sides. Place the rolls seam-side down in a casserole dish. Cover with the sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cabbage leaves are soft and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Let the dish rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy your ricotta-stuffed cabbage rolls!

cycheese

Spicy cabbage rolls with mozzarella

Cabbage rolls are a classic East European favorite, and this recipe puts a twist on the traditional dish by adding mozzarella cheese. The addition of mozzarella to the spicy cabbage rolls is intriguing and delicious, as discovered by the recipe's creator.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of cabbage
  • 8 cups of water
  • Olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 3-4 cloves of garlic
  • Ground beef
  • Italian sausage
  • Fennel seeds
  • Cream cheese
  • Chicken broth
  • Peppers
  • Rice
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce

Method

  • Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the whole head of cabbage and boil for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the cabbage from the water using tongs and carefully peel off the outer layer of leaves. Return the cabbage to the boiling water and continue boiling for another 10 minutes, removing the leaves as they soften.
  • Cover the softened cabbage leaves with paper towels and set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add ground beef, Italian sausage, and fennel seeds to the pan. Cook until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally.
  • Add cream cheese to the meat mixture and stir until melted.
  • Next, add chicken broth, peppers, and rice. Stir everything together and remove the pan from the heat.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat and rice mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll up the leaf, tucking in the sides, and place the roll in a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Repeat the above step until all the meat mixture is used up.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Pour this mixture over the cabbage rolls in the baking dish.
  • Top the cabbage rolls with sliced mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • After 1 hour, remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Tips and Variations

  • It is important to blanch the cabbage leaves before filling them to ensure they are tender and easy to roll.
  • Cayenne pepper adds a subtle kick of heat to the dish, but you can adjust the amount or omit it entirely if you prefer a milder flavor.
  • You can use ground turkey or vegan sausage instead of ground beef to reduce the fat content or make it vegan-friendly.
  • For a true Italian flavor, add some fennel seed to the meat mixture.
  • These spicy cabbage rolls can be served with mashed potatoes, homemade focaccia bread, or a side salad and garlic bread.
  • For a quicker and easier alternative, try making a cabbage roll casserole, which has all the flavors of cabbage rolls but without the need to roll each one individually.
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Cheesy cabbage roll casserole

Cabbage rolls are a delicious comfort food, but they can be time-consuming to make. This easy and cheesy cabbage roll casserole recipe has all the flavours of traditional cabbage rolls without the fuss of rolling them by hand. It's a cosy and tasty meal that's perfect for a chilly evening.

Ingredients

  • Lean ground beef
  • Onion (sweet yellow or white)
  • Minced garlic
  • Cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Brown sugar
  • Tomato sauce
  • Beef broth (low sodium)
  • White rice (uncooked long-grain)
  • Green cabbage (one medium head)
  • Cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella)
  • Paprika
  • Onion powder

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. Crumble the ground beef into a large pot and add the onion. Cook over medium heat until the meat is fully browned. Reduce the heat, add the garlic, and cook for another minute, stirring often. Drain off any excess fat.

Next, add the paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper (if using), brown sugar, tomato sauce, beef broth, and uncooked rice. Bring the mixture to a slow boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.

Spread half of the cooked cabbage over the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with half of the beef and rice mixture, then sprinkle with half of the cheese. Add the remaining cabbage, followed by the remaining beef and rice mixture, and top with the remaining cheese.

Cover the casserole with aluminium foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Your cheesy cabbage roll casserole is now ready to serve! Enjoy it with a lighter side dish like a cucumber salad, vegetable salad, or sauteed asparagus.

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Cabbage rolls with cheddar cheese

Cabbage rolls are a delicious comfort food, but they can be time-consuming to prepare. A casserole is a great alternative that incorporates all the flavours of cabbage rolls without the hassle of rolling them by hand. This recipe includes ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Brown sugar
  • Tomato sauce
  • Beef broth
  • White rice
  • Green cabbage
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. In a large pot, crumble and cook the ground beef over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until the meat is fully browned. Reduce the heat, add the garlic, and cook for another minute, stirring often. Drain off any excess fat.

Next, add the paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, tomato sauce, beef broth, and uncooked rice to the pot. Bring the mixture to a slow boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender. In a separate bowl, mix cooked rice, beef, and juices together. Add shredded cheddar cheese, an egg, and tomato sauce.

Now, spread half of the cooked cabbage over the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with half of the beef and rice mixture, then sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Add the remaining cabbage, followed by the rest of the beef and rice mixture, and finish with the remaining cheese. Cover the casserole with aluminium foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Your cabbage rolls with cheddar cheese are now ready to be served! This dish is best enjoyed warm and can be paired with a side salad and garlic bread.

cycheese

Cream cheese and mozzarella cabbage rolls

Cabbage rolls are a delicious comfort food, but they can be time-consuming to prepare. This recipe puts a twist on the traditional cabbage roll by adding cream cheese to the filling and topping the rolls with mozzarella cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of green cabbage
  • Ground beef
  • Italian sausage (you can use turkey Italian sausage to cut down on fat)
  • Fennel seeds
  • Cream cheese
  • Chicken broth
  • Peppers (including banana peppers)
  • Rice
  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Parsley

Method

  • Boil the cabbage for 10 minutes, then remove it from the water and peel off the outer leaves. Return the cabbage to the water and continue boiling for another 10 minutes, removing leaves as they soften.
  • Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add ground beef, Italian sausage, and fennel seeds to the pan. Cook until brown.
  • Add cream cheese and stir until melted.
  • Add chicken broth, peppers, and rice. Stir to combine, then remove from heat.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture into each cabbage leaf and roll, tucking in the sides.
  • Whisk together crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, then pour over the cabbage rolls in a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour, then remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese has melted.
  • Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Tips

  • You can add more rice to the filling or skip it altogether.
  • Blanching the cabbage leaves before rolling will help prevent them from becoming too tough.
  • You can also freeze any leftovers and serve them later.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can put cheese on cabbage rolls. In fact, there are several recipes for cheesy cabbage rolls that you can try.

Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, cheddar, ricotta, and parmesan are all cheeses that are used in cabbage roll recipes.

There are several ways to make cabbage rolls with cheese. You can make a casserole by layering cooked cabbage, beef, rice, sauce, and cheese in a baking dish. You can also make individual cabbage rolls with a meat and cheese filling, topped with tomato sauce and more cheese.

Yes, you can make vegetarian cabbage rolls with cheese by substituting the meat with ricotta and vegetables of your choice.

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