Extraordinary German Cabbage Rolls (krautwickel)

German cabbage rolls recipe (Krautwickel) is so full of flavor. This delicious dinner is a perfect home cooking recipe. After tasting them I KNOW your family will love these.

German Cabbage rolls are a filling dinner that can be made with different kinds of ground meat. For this recipe we used a mixture of ground hamburger meat and moose meat. These rolls are easy to make once you get the hang of it. The process is well worth the result

This recipe is from my Sister in Law Brigitte. Brigitte is one of the best cooks you are ever going to meet in the kitchen. She has worked as a cook professionally and her whole life at home is all about good home cooking.

I HIGHLY recommend you watch her make this recipe. This recipe is a perfect match for an entry level cook. Brigitte’s tips and methods make it easy.

Why are my Cabbage Rolls tough?

Cabbage Rolls are tough when the cabbage leaves have not been cooked long enough. Make sure that the cabbage leaves are soft before removing the dish from the oven. If the cabbage rolls are tough and chewy, the dish needs to be cooked longer. Most of the tenderizing and softening process will be done while the cabbage leaves are boiling.

Since cabbage leaves are very dense and fibrous, they made need to cook longer than the recommended cooking time. If you are having difficulty working with the cabbage leaves after the boiling process, return them to the boiling water and boil longer.

What is Krautwickel?

Krautwickel means “cabbage wrap” when translated from German to English. This dish has been popular for years in Europe. This dish is traditionally eaten warmed up, but it can also be eaten cold. Krautwickel makes great leftovers and is filling meal. These cabbage rolls are filling and can be eaten as a main dish or served as a side for a large dinner.

What kind of Meat goes in Cabbage Rolls?

Any type of ground meat can be used in cabbage rolls. The most popular meat to use in cabbage rolls is ground beef. Here are a few other options for ground meat in cabbage rolls:

• Ground Sausage
• Ground Moose Meat
• Ground Turkey Meat
• Ground Chicken
• Ground Venison

What side dish goes well with Cabbage Rolls?

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Bean Salad
3. Corn Bread
4. Sauerkraut
5. Spaetzle
6. Roasted Potatoes
7. Rye Bread
8. Pierogies
9. Roasted Carrots
10. Goulash
11. Borscht Soup

This bay leaf tree she grew herself from a seedling. Brigitte is a fabulous urban gardener.

She sent me up some dried Bay leaves and I made a German Borscht Soup and many other yummy meals with them. I didn’t know Bay leaf Trees would grow here!

More Cabbage Recipes:

You WILL have cooked leftover cabbage after choosing only the large leaves to roll. You may even need TWO heads of green cabbage to get enough leaves large enough to roll.

Here are some more delicious cabbage recipes to help you use up your extra Cabbage leaves.

Brigitte showed me the cook book the local German government gave her on her wedding day. It’s one of her old stand by cookbooks to this day.

Every bride of Brigitte’s generation living in the City of Wurzburg Germany received this cookbook. Put out with the help of the local businesses the cookbook had advertisements from all the local shops.

It is also full of helpful household cleaning tips and childrearing helps. Just what every bride could want.

The other cookbook she references for this recipe is German Cookery by Elizabeth Schuler.

Brigitte uses her own method and ingredients along with the culinary wisdoms found in these books to bring us this fantastic weeknight or special occasion dinner.

German Cabbage Rolls (krautwickel)

This recipe is unique to Brigitte. But cabbage rolls are a VERY popular dinner in her birth country of Germany where she was raised. Read more about the origins of cabbage rolls here.

Meaty, rich and flavorful. These are so good and filling. And then there is the gravy. A delicious combination.

Cabbage Rolls are a staple for German cooks because it’s delicious and very frugal. This recipe makes a lot for a small family.

Brigitte’s Tips for cabbage roll recipe:

Brigitte did not mix the meat filling in the video. Use her recipe and mix it up like a meatloaf. Brigitte actually used a 50/50 mixture of Moose meat.

I made Smoky Moose Meat Skillet Dinner as well. Very yummy! and full fat hamburger. Moose meat is very lean so you need the full fat hamburger to keep it moist.

No moose meat handy? You can make it a 100 percent hamburger recipe. It will taste great. Moose is very similar in flavor to beef.

1. BEFORE you fill your cabbage rolls take a bit of the meat and fry it. Adjust the seasonings at this point. This way you will have the tastiest filling for your family.
2. Cook the cabbage leaves until just tender. Drain the leaves and use a meat mallet (or some other like tool) to soften the tough cabbage vein so the leaf can roll easily.
3. Place the meat in the CENTER of the cabbage leaf not the bottom to get the cabbage to roll correctly. Then follow the recipe instructions.
4. Brown the cabbage rolls evenly on ALL sides, even the edges for best flavor. Another flavor tip is to brown the rolls in Peanut oil.
5. You can easily make this recipe in either your stove top skillet or a good sized electric frying pan.

NOTE: You will have to make these cabbage rolls in a MUCH larger skillet than you see in the video (Brigitte uses her large electric skillet).

Brigitte made most of the cabbage rolls a day ahead so you are only seeing her make a few.

Enjoy this flavorful satisfying meal. Savory meaty homemade German Stuffed Cabbage rolls will be a big hit with the family.

Stuffed cabbage rolls freezing Instructions.

1. Brigitte freezes the rolls only without the gravy in a tupperware container.
2. These rolls last well in the freezer several weeks.
3. They are a quick and easy snack, dinner or lunch. Just whip up a new batch of gravy if you’re having them for dinner and want gravy on the side.
4. Just thaw and microwave to reheat.

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