Sukkot, a harvest holiday, and Simchat Torah, which concludes the annual Torah reading cycle, both feature stuffed cabbage rolls. Why? On Sukkot, as we bring in bounty from the fields, we consider ourselves “stuffed” or “wrapped” in God’s blessings. And because Simchat Torah centers on the Torah, people eat foods that resemble, you guessed it, a rolled Torah scroll.
No matter how you roll (pun intended!), these savory pouches are quintessential comfort food—try one of these 13 unique varieties this fall.
Joan Nathan’s Stuffed Cabbage
This sweet-and-sour comfort food from the queen of Jewish cooking is a perfect one-dish meal.
Chanterelle Quinoa “Risotto” Stuffed Cabbage with Butternut Squash Puree
Mushrooms are the star of this veggie version, which is served over a colorful squash puree for peak fall vibes.
Cabbage Cake Stuffed With Beef, Rice, Nuts and Raisins
In this recipe from Einat Admony and Janna Gur’s “Shuk: From Market to Table, the Heart of Israeli Home Cooking,” individual rolls become a large cabbage “cake”—easier than stuffing lots of little rolls, and visually stunning.
Greek-Inspired Stuffed Cabbage Leaves
These vegetarian cabbage rolls feature a Greek-inspired rice-and-herb filling.
Un-Stuffed Cabbage Meatballs in Sweet-and-Sour Tomato Sauce
This dish delivers the essential flavors and textures of grandma’s stuffed cabbage in a weeknight friendly, one-pot way.
Cabbage Roll Casserole
This cozy bake takes inspiration from lasagna—blanched cabbage leaves are stacked with spiced beef ragù and lemony herbed rice for a casserole with classic Eastern European flavors, without the rolling.
Lamb-Stuffed Cabbage, Sephardic-Style
This Iraqi lamb filling, a minty, allspice-and-cinnamon-infused meat mixture, is tucked into cabbage leaves and covered with a currant-flecked tomato sauce.
Cabbage Roll Soup
If you love cabbage rolls but don’t love all the time involved, this quick-cooking cabbage soup is for you! This hearty and filling dish has all the same flavors as classic baked cabbage rolls, but with a fraction of the work.
Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage with Creamy Beet Sauce
This twist on tradition features a nutty, tahini-laced farro-and-lentil filling, topped with beet sauce, crunchy almonds and cilantro.
Grandma’s Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage
This comforting meat recipe yields melt-in-your-mouth stuffed cabbage, without having to watch the rolls for hours.
Stuffed Cabbage With Lemony Rice and Sumac
This filling is a fragrant and tart mix of warm rice, buttery pine nuts and lemony sour sumac. (Sumac, a tart, citrusy spice generally sold in ground form, can be found at Middle Eastern markets, specialty foods stores and online).
Unstuffed Cabbage Noodles
These “unstuffed” cabbage noodles are the ultimate stuffed cabbage hack—they’re hearty, savory and delicious, without all the work.
