Keto Cabbage Rolls | Georgian Stuffed Cabbage

This keto cabbage rolls recipe is perfect for the low carb diet. It’s based on the traditional Georgian stuffed cabbage recipe for tolma and has a delicious mixture of pork, beef, peppers, and cauliflower rice. Top them with sour cream for a comforting homemade keto dinner.

This post may include Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

When I was in Georgia, my host mother showed me how to make a variation of these Keto Cabbage Rolls. They are made with fresh ingredients and so delicious! If you’re on a low carb diet or just want a delicious comfort meal, this is the perfect dish for you. As it’s a Georgian stuffed cabbage recipe, called tolma, or ტოლმა in Georgian, it’s flavored with authentic spices and has been around for generations. 

Georgians have a rich culture. They are famous for their hospitality, and they love to share traditional recipes with the world. These cabbage rolls stuffed with ground beef, ground pork, and rice are just one of those beloved recipes. I’m going to mix things up a bit and use cauliflower rice to reduce the carbs as well as some other minor alterations to make it more keto-friendly.

The main ingredients are simple and can be found at any grocery store – ground beef, ground pork, cauliflower rice, tomatoes, sour cream, salt & pepper… now that doesn’t sound too bad does it? A few of the spices may be harder to find locally but they can easily be ordered on Amazon or subbed with something you already have. Let’s get started!

In a hurry?

While I think you’ll love my super helpful tips and fun stories, I also realize we are sometimes pressed for time and just need a good recipe! Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe or PIN it here for later!

Are these cabbage rolls keto?

To being with, keto stuffed cabbage rolls are keto-friendly and are easily worked into a keto or low carb diet.

Recipes for keto stuffed cabbage rolls vary, so each recipe should be checked separately to see if they’re keto or not. Other recipes can contain rice or breadcrumbs or different fillers that are not low-carb.

If you’re keto, keto stuffed cabbage rolls can easily feature in your ketogenic diet plan as long as the recipe is keto-friendly, which luckily, ours is!

It’s important to check how many carbs are being used in such dishes.

In our recipe, it makes eight servings with 368 calories each, 33 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat, and 5 grams net carbs.

These macros are figured with MyFitnessPal, with the specific ingredients I use in the recipe. I always recommend figuring your own with the specific items you personally use. Especially it’s important to figure your own if you’re keeping close track and want to be accurate.

What is blue fenugreek?

What is blue fenugreek you ask? Well, blue fenugreek is a spice, which is a native wild plant found in the wet areas of Georgia, Azerbaĭjan, Armenia, and Russia. Its scientific name is Trigonella caerulea, and it can grow to be about two feet tall. They grow a sort of flower seed pod on the top of each stalk. In fact, the seeds, the pods, and the leaves are all dried and used to make the blue fenugreek spice in cooking.

The blue fenugreek herb can be used in the cooking of meat, in salads, and in most any savory dish. In Georgian, blue fenugreek is called utskho suneli and is quite popular in Georgian recipes. Often, I personally use it in the Georgian salad Spinach Pkhali, a sort of keto spinach dip, and Georgian Eggplant with Walnuts.

Utiskho suneli or blue fenugreek for medicinal purposes

The blue fenugreek herb is of course used in recipes for meat and vegetables, but its leaves are also used for medicines. Georgians use it to treat stomach problems and other ailments such as headaches and toothaches. Some Georgians even claim it relieves coughs, works as a muscle pain reliever, and lowers bad cholesterol levels in the blood.

Wow! I won’t make any of those claims, I just know it tastes good.

🍽 Equipment needed for keto cabbage rolls

• a spatula or wooden spoon
• a deep soup/stock pot or Dutch oven
• sauté or frying pan
• measuring cups and spoons
• mortar and pestle (optional – or just use the back of a spoon in a small bowl)
• medium-large bowls
• a plate
• fork

🥘 Ingredients in low carb cabbage rolls

• 1 medium to large-sized cabbage
• 1/2 pound (8oz) ground beef
• 1/2 pound (8oz) ground pork
• 1 cup cauliflower rice
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 long green pepper (Anaheim or other)
• 1/4 cup sour cream (plus more to top)
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tsp blue fenugreek (Georgian utskho suneli – can substitute ground fenugreek or ground mustard)
• 2 tsp dried ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp avocado oil (or coconut or extra virgin olive oil)
• 2 cups chicken bone broth (can sub water)

🔪 Instructions for keto stuffed cabbage

First of all, to make keto stuffed cabbage rolls you’ll need to get out all the equipment and ingredients so they’re close at hand.

1. Keto cabbage rolls spice mix

To begin, I like to prepare the spice mix.

In a small bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, ground coriander, and blue fenugreek. Again, if you don’t have blue fenugreek, it can be purchased on Amazon or sometimes at local stores. If not, substitute regular ground fenugreek or even ground mustard seeds. The taste will not be the same, and the mustard a stronger flavor, but it’s the closest we might get.

Mix in the minced garlic, and mash it all into a paste pressing with the back of a spoon. Traditionally this is done with a mortar and pestle, so if you have one, pull that baby out and put it to good use!

2. Low carb tomato and sour cream sauce

Once the spice mix is ready, I like to prep the tomato and sour cream sauce that cooks around the cabbage rolls.

Take out a medium bowl and in it mix the tomatoes, sour cream, and half the spice mixture. Next, stir in the two cups of chicken bone broth and bay leaves. Make sure the sour cream is completely blended in without clumps. Then set it aside for the moment.

3. Keto cabbage rolls recipe filling

Now add two tablespoons of oil to a sauté or frying pan and heat it to medium-high. Then sauté the chopped onion and green pepper, stirring occasionally until limp and cooked, about 3-5 minutes.

After that, place the meat, cauliflower rice, onion and pepper mixture, and remaining spices in a large bowl. Mix together well until everything is evenly incorporated. Also, don’t be afraid to alter the recipe to your tastes or what you have around the house. If you only have a pound of ground beef but not any ground pork, use the beef or vice versa! Make it work for your family.

4. Prep the cabbage

Fill a large stockpot or another deep pan with water and salt it as if boiling noodles. Dip the entire cabbage in the boiling water, stem up, and let it sit for 4-5 minutes until leaves are limp. If the water doesn’t cover the cabbage, turn it around so all parts are limp but not completely boiled.

Next, remove the cabbage from the water and let it drain for 2-3 minutes. You’ll be surprised to see how much water comes out of the middle!

Then, use a fork to carefully peel back the leaves and remove them intact to roll around the meat mixture. Trim off the excess thick white ribs (or spines) of the leaves, but be careful not to cut holes in them. Pile them on a plate to be ready to fill.

5. Fill the cabbage leaves

After that, place two heaping tablespoons of the meat filling in the center of a cabbage leaf.

• 

• 

Begin to roll on the side nearest the stem, fold the sides inward, then complete the cabbage roll in a neat package.

• 

• 

• 

Continue the process with each cabbage leaf until the meat mixture and cabbage leaves are gone. Then pack them in tightly and evenly in the large stockpot or pan used before to boil the cabbage.

💭 Top tip – Georgian kombostos tolma recipe

Now it’s time for my traditional Georgian tip for keto cabbage rolls! So that the cabbage rolls don’t float around the pot and come unrolled, a heat-proof plate and a weight are the answer!

Cover the cabbage rolls with an upside-down heat-proof plate or bowl. Next, weigh it down with another pot or heavy item to keep the rolls from floating around the pot. Perfect! Georgian grandmothers have been doing it this way for generations!

• 

• 

Then pour the tomato mixture around the sides and turn the stove on high. Once it boils, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 40-45 minutes.

• 

• 

Lastly, carefully remove the plate with a spatula or spoon so as not to burn yourself. Serve it up family-style with the tomato and sour cream mixture ladled over the top of the cabbage rolls. They can be topped with more black pepper and a dollop of sour cream.

Keto entree recipes

A keto diet can be a life-changing thing. It’s amazing how quickly you start to feel in control of your food choices when you make the commitment and get into the routine, but it takes time.

The key is just to keep experimenting with new recipes that work for your lifestyle while also finding some favorite go-to comfort foods so you don’t miss out on anything delicious. I wanted to share this recipe with all my fellow keto warriors because I know how hard it can be sometimes to come up with meal ideas!

This cabbage rolls dish has an irresistible mixture of pork, beef, peppers, and cauliflower rice. It’s a great fall or winter comfort food. Top them off with sour cream for a keto-approved entree that’s sure to be a hit!

Pin the recipe here!

Tag me in your recipe pics on Instagram @explorermomma.

If you LOVE this recipe please consider giving it a five-star rating in the review area below!

🌍 What is Georgia famous for?

Learn more about Georgia:

1. Georgian Language Phrases for Travelers
2. Unforgettable Things to do in Tbilisi, Georgia
3. How to Make Traditional Georgian Bread
4. Top 10 Things to do in Batumi, Georgia with kids!
5. Tbilisi, Georgia: Doors and Windows

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please be aware I am not a medical specialist or nutritional professional. On this blog, I share recipes and what works for me. Please do not take anything on this blog as medical advice and always consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

I use MyFitnessPal.com to calculate nutrition facts as a courtesy to my readers, and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count because does not affect my own blood glucose levels.  

This is as accurate as possible, but it’s best to independently calculate nutritional information on your own with the specific ingredients you use. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.