asian cabbage rolls

Healthy Sesame Ginger Cabbage Rolls

Once upon a time I was addicted to Chinese food. And I don’t mean real Chinese food; I mean the processed, Americanized version at places like Panda Express. Since switching to real food years ago, I’ve experimented with plenty of delicious and healthy Asian inspired recipes. These sesame ginger cabbage rolls are my latest obsession

They’re packed with veggies and protein and bursting with Asian flavors like toasted sesame oil, ginger, and coconut aminos (like soy sauce). I’ll serve them as appetizers, or more often as part of the main meal. They take just minutes of hands on time and you can make a big batch and store the leftovers for later. 

Sesame Ginger Cabbage Rolls

If you love the flavors of dumplings or pot stickers but don’t love the extra work of making wrappers, these cabbage rolls are a great alternative. And while the premade wonton wrappers are fast, they’re not always the cleanest. Napa cabbage is surprisingly tender after a quick blanch and makes a wrapper that’s light and easy to work with. It also adds another serving of vegetables without changing the classic savory filling. 

You can use other meats, but I like ground chicken since it doesn’t overpower the other flavors, like ginger and garlic. Plus, it adds a healthy dose of protein. Finely diced shiitake mushrooms blend right into the filling to add an earthy flavor and extra moisture so the chicken stays moist as it cooks. 

My favorite part is the dipping sauce though. It brings everything together for a salty, savory dip. Coconut aminos taste like soy sauce, but slightly sweeter (and without the soy). Then there’s the earthy ginger, sesame and chili crisp for a bit of spiciness. Every bite has so much flavor without the ultraprocessed sauces or MSG. 

Tips for the Best Cabbage Rolls

One of the biggest tricks to making these is choosing the right cabbage. Napa cabbage has softer, flexible leaves that roll easily after a quick blanch. If the thick white stem feels stiff, simply remove it before filling and rolling. This makes the leaves easier to work with and helps prevent tearing.

You also don’t want to overfill the rolls. About one-third cup of filling is plenty for each leaf and makes rolling much easier. If a leaf does split, it’s an easy fix. Simply overlap another cabbage leaf around it before cooking. Once they’re steamed, no one will notice.

After browning the bottoms for a couple of minutes, I add a little water and cover the pan to let the cabbage steam while the filling cooks through. Remove the lid for the last minute or two to let any remaining liquid evaporate and give the bottoms a little extra texture.

Easy to Customize

These cabbage rolls are easy to adapt with whatever you have on hand. Ground turkey or pork both work well in place of chicken, and shredded carrots add a little natural sweetness and color. If you like more crunch, stir in some finely chopped water chestnuts before rolling everything up.

Leftovers also reheat well, making these a great meal prep option. I store them in the refrigerator for a few days and warm them gently in a covered skillet with a splash of water. They’re just as delicious the next day for lunch or a quick dinner.

We love making homemade pot stickers, but these sesame ginger cabbage rolls have become one of our favorite shortcuts. They have all the savory flavors we love, and the tender cabbage creates a surprisingly satisfying substitute for traditional wonton wrappers.

Healthy Sesame Ginger Cabbage Rolls

These flavorful cabbage rolls feature protein, veggies, and real food ingredients like garlic, ginger, and toasted sesame.

For the Sesame Napa Cabbage Rolls

For the Sesame Coconut Aminos Dipping Sauce

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully separate 8-10 large Napa cabbage leaves and blanch them for about 1 minute, just until softened and flexible enough to roll without tearing. Transfer the leaves to an ice bath or a plate to cool and pat dry with paper towels. If needed, trim the thickest portion of the stem with a knife so the leaves roll more easily.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, shiitake mushrooms, garlic, green onions, coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil, ginger, rice vinegar, and white pepper. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated, being careful not to overwork the meat.

  • Lay a cabbage leaf flat on your work surface. Place approximately 1/3 cup of filling near the stem end of the leaf. Fold the sides inward and roll tightly, similar to a burrito or spring roll. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.

  • Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom. Add ¼ cup water to the skillet and immediately cover with a lid. Steam for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the lid and continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes to allow any remaining liquid to evaporate and the bottoms to crisp slightly.

  • While the rolls cook, whisk together the coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, chili crisp, honey, ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds.

  • Serve immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Sesame Ginger Cabbage Rolls

Amount Per Serving (1 cabbage roll)

Calories 139
Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 0.03g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 39mg13%

Sodium 200mg9%

Potassium 332mg9%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 95IU2%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 26mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

For extra heat, add a teaspoon of chili crisp directly to the filling mixture

Storage and Shelf Life

Keep any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove with a little water to steam.

More Asian Inspired Recipes

These delicious recipes are a healthier spin on typical fast food and Asian inspired dishes.

Have you made wraps or cabbage rolls before? What are your favorite flavors to use? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Global Cosmetics News

Boots rolls out Wellness Zones and specialist training across UK stores

THE WHAT? Boots has introduced new in-store Wellness Zones, supported by newly trained Health & Wellness Specialists, to help customers more easily navigate the fast-growing wellness category.

THE DETAILS The retailer has launched dedicated Wellness Zones designed to bring together trusted products and expert guidance in one place, spanning areas such as gut health, nutrition, hydration, sleep, movement and beauty-from-within. The Wellness Zones have initially launched in six stores nationwide.

Boots has also rolled out new wellness training to more than 500 Health & Wellness Specialists, who will be available across 140 stores to provide advice and recommendations based on customer goals.

Alongside the store upgrades, Boots is expanding its wellness assortment with a further 140 new wellness lines and 12 new wellness brands, including Loop, Perfect Ted and Wellthy by Boots, a new own-brand range featuring electrolytes positioned around benefits such as energy, focus, radiant skin, rest and immune support.

A pick-and-mix style selection of “taster” products from brands including Humantra, Zooki and DIRTEA has also been introduced, enabling shoppers to sample trending formats and ingredients. Boots has additionally launched a dedicated Wellness Hub on boots.com, offering accessible content across key topics including hormones, calmness, energy and sleep.

THE WHY? The move reflects growing consumer interest in wellness as an extension of beauty routines, with Boots citing research that 40% of beauty consumers now view wellness as an essential daily step. The retailer is also targeting younger shoppers, as Gen Z and millennials increasingly spend more on wellness at the start of the year and look for guidance across areas such as gut health, stress and hormonal balance—factors more consumers are linking to skin and hair health.

Source: Boots 

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Protein_Cinnamon_Rolls

Homemade Protein Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (With Greek Yogurt)

There’s something so magical about pulling some warm cinnamon rolls from the oven on a chilly morning. These high protein cinnamon rolls are an easy way to get all the magic, without all of the sugar or junky ingredients. My kids love these and because they have no yeast, they’re ready in less than an hour!

More people are focusing on protein now because of its benefits for building and maintaining muscle. You’ll find plenty of new protein bars on the market in tons of flavors and more brands are adding protein to various foods. While I’m all for more protein, the quality matters. Ingredients like GMO soy protein or whey protein from CAFO cattle may do more harm than good. 

While we’re probably a ways off from buying healthy high protein cinnamon rolls in a tube at the grocery store, you can easily make them at home!

Healthy Cinnamon Rolls

So, are cinnamon rolls healthy? They’re certainly not in the same category as pasture raised meats or organic veggies, but it is possible to make a healthier version of cinnamon rolls. Instead of gobs of sugar these protein cinnamon rolls are naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and raw honey. No sugar cinnamon roll recipes usually call for sugar alcohols that can cause digestive issues for many people. That’s not what you’ll find here, but they’re still mildly sweet and absolutely delicious. 

Protein Cinnamon Roll Ingredients

Now that my Hashimotos is gone and I’m able to eat a wider variety of healthy foods, I’ll eat gluten on occasion. I still avoid bleached, enriched, glyphosate sprayed conventional flour, but sometimes I pull out organic flour for baking. You can easily make these protein cinnamon rolls gluten free though with a gluten free flour blend. Just be sure to choose one that has clean ingredients, like this one. 

Greek yogurt is one of the main ingredients in the creamy frosting and to gives the rolls a protein boost. If you need dairy free, then a really thick coconut milk yogurt could work, but I haven’t personally tried it. 

Instead of making cottage cheese or whey protein cinnamon rolls, I used a different version of protein for these. I used Equip Prime protein which is made from beef protein, collagen, and gelatin. It’s a nose to tail protein source, but it’s not gritty or beefy tasting. If you don’t have any on hand, then collagen powder will also work. 

Protein Cinnamon Rolls with Greek Yogurt

Protein Cinnamon Roll Dough

Greek Yogurt Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (whole milk for best texture)
  • 2 TBSP raw honey (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and coconut sugar.

  • Add the Greek yogurt and melted coconut oil, then stir until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels too dry, add milk or water a tablespoon at a time until it comes together.

  • Knead gently on a floured surface for 1–2 minutes, just until smooth.

  • Roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Spread softened butter evenly over the surface.

  • In a small bowl, mix the coconut sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle evenly over the dough.

  • Roll it up tightly into a log and slice into 8 even rolls.

  • Place the rolls in a greased 8×8-inch baking dish or parchment-lined skillet. Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool slightly before frosting.

  • In a medium bowl or stand mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add Greek yogurt, honey, vanilla, salt, and (optional) protein powder. Mix until thick and creamy. Spread generously over the warm, but not hot rolls.

Nutrition Facts

Protein Cinnamon Rolls with Greek Yogurt

Amount Per Serving (1 roll)

Calories 303
Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 260mg11%

Potassium 282mg8%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 283IU6%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 160mg16%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

For a thicker frosting, chill it for 10–15 minutes before spreading.

Serving High Protein Cinnamon Rolls

These taste so good when they’re still slightly warm and fresh from the oven. If you know you’re not going to eat them right away, then save the frosting for right before serving. Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

What are some of your favorite baked goods to make? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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