Crafting the absolute best vegan cabbage rolls is an art that blends flavors, textures, and aromas into a harmonious culinary masterpiece. Begin by selecting a head of fresh cabbage, ensuring its leaves are pliable yet sturdy. Blanch the leaves to soften them, making them pliable for rolling. Next, prepare a filling that tantalizes the taste buds with a medley of savory ingredients such as lentils, quinoa, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs like thyme and rosemary. Enhance the filling with finely diced vegetables such as carrots, onions, and garlic, adding depth and complexity to each bite.

For the sauce, concoct a rich tomato-based blend infused with herbs and spices, marrying sweetness with tanginess. Layer the cabbage rolls in a baking dish, generously smothering each layer with the luscious sauce, ensuring every roll is enveloped in flavor. Bake the rolls until the cabbage is tender and the sauce caramelizes, creating a tantalizing aroma that fills the kitchen.

Finally, serve these delectable vegan cabbage rolls garnished with fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon for brightness. Each bite offers a symphony of flavors, from the tender cabbage wrapping to the hearty filling and the robust sauce that ties it all together. These vegan cabbage rolls are not just a meal; they’re an experience—a celebration of plant-based ingredients crafted with love and creativity.

absolute best vegan cabbage rolls!

  • Total Time: 3 hours
  • Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Vegan Cabbage Rolls! My vegetarian take on traditional stuffed cabbage recipe made vegan! with impossible meat. Taste just like moms! Perfect easy weeknight comfort food for the whole family. No one will believe it’s meatless!

INGREDIENTS

For sauce:

  • 1 (796 ml/28 oz) can diced tomatoes 
  • 1 (680 ml/24 oz) can tomato sauce (not tomato paste)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

For cabbage rolls:

  • 2 packages (340 g/12 oz each) impossible burger ground beef
  • 1 and 1/2 cups rice, cooked and cooled (white or brown rice)
  • 1 medium- large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped 
  • 1 tablespoon oil, I use grapeseed or olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
  • pinch of black pepper 
  • 1 large green cabbage 

INSTRUCTION

Equipment needed: 9×13 casserole dish or 10×15 must be at least 3 inches or more deep.

  1. For tomato sauce: mix sauce ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. For ‘Meat’ filling: Fry onions in a skillet over medium heat with the oil and a pinch of salt and pepper for 5-7 minutes until browning and softening. Stir in garlic and cook for a minute. Remove to a plate too cool. In a medium bowl add vegan ground beef, cold cooked rice, onion and garlic mixture, fennel and 1 tsp salt and another pinch of black pepper. Mix well. I usually mix by hand. Set aside
  3. Core and Cook cabbage: with a sharp knife cut around the stem of cabbage about 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches out from the stem and 3 inches or so down. Should resemble a cone when pulled out. 
  4. Fill a large stock pot half way with water. Set to boil. When boiling add cabbage. After it’s been boiling for 3 minutes or so start pulling off leaves with tongs, 2 at a time. Once leaves are removed let boil for a couple of minutes then remove to a plate. Repeat process until you have 16-18 leaves.
  5. To roll, assemble and bake: Preheat oven to 325° Spread 1 cup of sauce in casserole dish. Set it close by.
  6. Lay each cabbage leaf on cutting board. Use a small knife to cut a V-shaped notch to remove the thick part of the cabbage rib.
  7. Place 1/4 cup of filling in centre of leaf, shape the mixture into a log. Roll up burrito style (step by step photos in above post) 
  8. Place seam side down in casserole dish as you go. Repeat with remaining filling and cabbage leaves. I like the rolls to fit quite snuggly in the dish.
  9. Cover with remaining tomato sauce. Give dish a little shake to disperse sauce. Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 2 hours and 45 minutes. Remove from oven let sit for 10 minutes or so before serving. Enjoy!

For FAQ, Tips, serving suggestions and step by step photos see above post

NOTES

  • To store and freeze: will keep in fridge for up to 4 days. Portion in containers and freeze for up to 2 months. Make sure they are completely cooked and cooled overnight in fridge before freezing. To reheat from frozen: defrost overnight in fridge and heat in microwave or oven.
  • have not tested cabbage rolls with beyond beef!