Japanese Cabbage Rolls

Japanese Cabbage Rolls

Japanese Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls are a popular Japanese dish that has been influenced from Western cuisine. Unlike most westernized cabbage rolls that are simmered in a tomato soup base, Japanese cabbage rolls are simmered in chicken stock and topped with pieces of bacon. They can be filled with pork, beef, or a combination of the two.
To make the filling, the onions need to be lightly sautéed. This will bring out the sweetness in the onions and add more flavor to the filling. The cabbage leaves will need to be boiled for 3 minutes to soften them for rolling. Place a 1/2 cup of the filling in the cabbage leaf and roll in up. Place them seam side down in a saucepan with the chicken stock and bacon. Simmer for 40 minutes until the stock has reduced by half. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: East Asian, Japanese, main course, Pork
Servings: 4
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 8 large cabbage leaves
  • 4 strips bacon chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • salt to taste

Cabbage Roll Filling

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground pork
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper

Garnish

  • parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté the onions for 5 minutes until translucent. Take off the heat and let cool.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Mix together all of the filling ingredients. Let rest in the refrigerator until ready for use.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Bring a pot of water to boil. Boil the cabbage leaves for 3 minutes, just enough to soften them.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Shock the leaves in ice water to stop the cooking process.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • When ready to roll, place a cabbage leaf flat on the surface with the rib side facing towards you. Place a 1/2 cup of the filling across the bottom center of the leaf.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Fold up the bottom of the leaf over the top of the filling. Fold in the sides and roll it up.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Place all of the cabbage rolls in a large saucepan. Top the rolls with chopped bacon. Pour in the chicken stock. Bring the stock to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to medium low.
    Japanese, main course, pork
  • Simmer the cabbage rolls for 40 minutes until the stock has reduced by half.
    Japanese, main course, pork
Japanese, main course, pork
Garnish with chopped parsley.