Keto Cabbage Rolls
These keto cabbage rolls are stuffed with ground beef and baked in tomato sauce. Adapted from the classic Polish cabbage rolls recipe, they make the perfect low-carb dinner for a family and an easy meal prep.
Servings 6 people
Calories236.4 kcal
Cost $ 1.25 per person
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 1 large pot
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 saucepan for cooking the tomato sauce
- 1 Baking dish
Ingredients
For the low-carb tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or other vegetable oil
- ½ small yellow onion finely chopped (or white onion)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 14.5 ounce can of Organic diced tomatoes Do NOT drain!
- 15- ounce can of tomato sauce no sugar added
- 1 cup water
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons sugar substitute such as granulated Swerve, Stevia, or Xylitol (or 1 tablespoon sugar if you are not on a keto diet)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar TIP: You can save time using a good store-bought chunky tomato sauce instead of making this homemade low-carb tomato sauce. But be aware, store-bought ones have more carbs and added sugar.
For the stuffed cabbage rolls
- 1 pound ground beef 90% lean
- 1 cup cauliflower rice steamed (follow instructions in the package for microwave). TIP: Make sure to drain any excess water so your rolls won't be watery.
- ½ small yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves chopped divided use (or Italian seasoning, about 1 tablespoon total)
- 1 large egg at room temperature (it works like a binder)
- 1 head of cabbage
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- To make the tomato sauce: Heat a large no-stick pot over medium heat, add the oil and cook the onion for 3-4 minutes or until softened, stirring now and then. Add the garlic and cook for 60 seconds. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, salt, pepper, sugar substitute, and red wine vinegar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring once and a while. TIP: If you're not on a keto diet, you can use a store-bought tomato sauce of your liking, cutting down the prep time.
- While the sauce is simmering, prepare the cabbage rolls. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Immerse the cabbage head in boiling water (with a good pinch of salt and a teaspoon of vinegar) but leave some free space at the top so the boiling water won't overflow. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the cabbage leaves begin to soften and turn their color yellowish. Carefully remove the cabbage from the pan, let it cool enough to handle, and peel 12 large leaves off the cabbage. Reserve!
- In a large bowl, mix in ground beef, steamed cauliflower rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons of parsley, and egg until homogeneous. Stir in ½ cup of tomato sauce until combined!
- Lay each cabbage leaf on a flat surface. Using a small knife, cut a V-shaped notch to remove the thick part of the cabbage rib.
- Shape ⅓ of a cup of the meat mixture into a log shape and place it in the center of a cabbage leaf. Then, tuck in two ends of the cabbage leaf tightly and roll it up, similar to a burrito. Repeat with remaining meat and cabbage leaves.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C). Meanwhile, coat a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray. Place ½ of the tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Place the cabbage rolls, seam side down, in the dish and top with the remaining sauce.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 60-90 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and the meat is cooked through.
- Serve keto cabbage rolls with a sprinkle of the remaining 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley on top.
Recipe Notes
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
To freeze these low-carb cabbage rolls, cook them fully, let them cool, place them into freeze-safe containers, and freeze them for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them in the fridge and reheat them covered in the oven at 350 degrees F just until hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 236.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.1g | Protein: 19.7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 76.4mg | Sodium: 554.6mg | Potassium: 804.1mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8.3g | Vitamin A: 970.7IU | Vitamin C: 82.9mg | Calcium: 100.1mg | Iron: 3.1mg
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
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