Cabbage Bundles Stuffed with Meat and Scamorza: The Recipe for New Year’s Eve Dinner
If you’re looking for a last-minute idea for the 2025 New Year’s menu or a festive lunch, these cabbage bundles are the perfect solution. Although I often prefer vegetarian recipes on the blog, this meat and melted cheese dish has been incredibly successful among my guests, proving to be delicious and appetizing.
Why choose cabbage and meat rolls
These little parcels of goodness are not only scenic but also extremely easy and quick to make. The combination of the sweetness of stewed cabbage, the saltiness of minced meat, and the melted heart of scamorza creates an irresistible mix of flavors that will conquer everyone, just as it happened with my family!
Preparation tips and variations
Making these bundles is very simple: blanch the leaves of cabbage (or savoy cabbage) for a few minutes to make them flexible, use a muffin tin to obtain regularly shaped round bundles, but alternatively, you can also make classic rolls by hand. Finally, fill them with a mix of quality minced meat and cubes of smoked or mild scamorza.
How to serve the bundles in the holiday menu
The versatility is the strong point of this recipe. You can serve the cabbage bundles in two ways:
as Finger Food Appetizers prepared in advance and served at room temperature for a buffet, or as a Main Course, served hot, freshly baked, accompanied by a fresh seasonal salad. Save time in the kitchen without giving up the “wow” effect: these rolls will literally fly off the table!
If you like vegetables and love wrapping and stuffing them in a thousand different ways, these recipes might be right for you!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 12 bundles
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter
Ingredients
⚠ THIS RECIPE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE AFFILIATE LINKS. The products I recommend are the same ones I use in my recipes; buying them through my blog helps support me and my work, without costing you anything extra!
- 12 leaves cabbage
- 1.2 lbs ground beef
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsps grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps breadcrumbs
- 3 oz scamorza
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsps dried oregano
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 pinches salt
- to taste pepper
Tools
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Tongs
- 1 Bowl
- 2 Spoons
- 1 Brush
- 1 Muffin Tin
Steps
Start by detaching 12 leaves, the largest and outer ones, from the cabbage.
Rinse them under running water and blanch in hot unsalted water for 5′. Then, using kitchen tongs, drain them one by one and let them cool slightly.
Meanwhile, with a kitchen brush, brush the muffin tin with oil and place a cabbage leaf inside each cavity.
In a large bowl, work the ground meat with the egg.
Season with salt and pepper and also add the nutmeg.
Add the dried oregano and the tomato paste.
Finally, add the grated Parmesan and the breadcrumbs.
Mix well to combine all the ingredients, then fill each bundle halfway with the mixture, using two spoons.
Press well to compact, add slices of scamorza for each and cover with more minced meat.
Finally, close the bundles, pressing well so they don’t open.
Place in a preheated static oven at 375°F for 30′ or until golden. Turn off and remove from the oven.
Serve warm or cold, they will be delicious either way.
And voilà… the cabbage bundles with minced meat and scamorza are ready to be enjoyed!
Bon Appetit from La Cucina di FeFè!
Storage
👉 You can store cabbage bundles stuffed with minced meat and scamorza in the fridge for 2-3 days in suitable refrigeration containers with an airtight seal.
Tips, notes, variations, and suggestions
🟣 You can substitute cabbage with Savoy cabbage or kale if you prefer, but if you don’t like cabbages in general, you can also use radicchio or even lettuce leaves.
🟣For the filling: you can also substitute scamorza with another stringy cheese of your choice and perhaps enrich the filling with some black olive slices.
