Chinese Cabbage Rolls with Ground Meat and Rice
A tasty, appetizing main dish for the whole family for lunch or dinner! These Chinese cabbage rolls simmer gently for a long time and turn exceptionally tender and soft compared to classic ones.
Updated : 14 January, 2026
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
Rolls
0.5
Chinese cabbage
350 grams
Ground meat
1
Carrot
0.3 cup
Parboiled rice
0.5 teaspoon
Salt
to taste
Ground black pepper
Sauce
2 tablespoon
Tomato sauce
3 tablespoon
Sour cream
300 milliliters
Water
to taste
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How to make Chinese cabbage rolls with ground meat and rice? Prepare all the ingredients. You can use the large outer green leaves of Chinese cabbage, but I prefer the pale inner leaves: the finished rolls look nicer and come out smaller. I also sometimes add sautéed mushrooms to the filling, although they aren’t in the recipe - optional.
Step 2
First, prepare the rice. Parboiled rice works best because it stays firm and holds its shape. Rinse the rice well under warm running water until the water runs clear. Add water to a pot, salt it, and boil the rice for 10 minutes until half-cooked. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Let all the water drain off completely.
Step 3
Put the ground meat in a bowl. A 50/50 mix of pork and beef works best. Peel and wash the carrot and grate it finely. Add it to the bowl with the meat. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Add the cooked rice to the bowl.
Step 5
Mix everything thoroughly. If the mixture is very dense, add a little cold water.
Step 6
Separate the Chinese cabbage into leaves and cut off the narrow bottom part - you’ll need it later. Put the leaves in a bowl and pour hot water over them for 5 minutes to soften. Drain and pat dry.
Step 7
Lay out a cabbage leaf and place some filling on it.
Step 8
Wrap the filling in the leaf, shaping it into a cabbage roll.
Step 9
Slice the cut-off bottom part of the cabbage into thin strips and place it on the bottom of a pot. It will act as a cushion so the rolls don’t burn. Arrange the rolls on top of the shredded cabbage.
Step 10
Pour water into a bowl, add sour cream and tomato sauce, and mix. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 11
Pour the sauce over the rolls. It should almost completely cover them.
Step 12
Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to the lowest setting, cover, and cook for 1 hour.
Step 13
Remove from the heat, plate the rolls, and serve immediately with sour cream and herbs.
Step 14
Enjoy your meal.
Author note
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