Creamy Sauces

• Basic brown gravy spooned over Swedish kaldomar balances the slightly sweet flavor of syrup drizzled on the ground meat and rice-stuffed cabbage just before roasting in the oven. Mushroom gravy pairs well with golupci, the Ukranian version of cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and cooked buckwheat or plain mashed potatoes. For ground meat and rice-filled Polish golabki, sour cream is mixed with the stock in which the rolls are cooked to make a smooth sauce for topping. Yogurt offers a tangy, cooling counterbalance for Middle Eastern cabbage roll-ups made with pungent, aromatic spices.

Classic Starches

• The mild flavor of mashed or boiled new potatoes makes them a natural companion for the full-bodied taste of meat-stuffed cabbage rolls. Small red potatoes, steamed or roasted, bring the visual appeal of contrasting colors to a plate where the green of cabbage leaves and the golden-brown tones from cooking are predominant. Rice flecked with aromatic vegetables complements Middle Eastern-style cabbage rolls, such as Lebanese malfouf which are filled with spicy minced lamb and rolled like slender cigars.

Vibrant Vegetables

• Whether they're filled with meat, grains or a combination of both, cabbage rolls are the star of a dinner that's balanced with colorful, lightly seasoned vegetables. Accompany the main course with a melange of stir-fried red peppers, zucchini and yellow summer squash. Combine slender young green beans sauteed with minced garlic or julienne carrots with butter and lemon juice on a plate with cabbage rolls for a light, well-rounded meal. Mound cubes of butternut squash that have been roasted to a light golden-brown next to the cabbage rolls for a modern comfort-food approach to the meal.

Fruity Accents

• Sweet, tart lignonberries are traditionally sprinkled over cabbage rolls in Scandinavia, but those are rare in the U.S., so a spoonful of raspberry or blackberry jam on the side of the plate will serve just as well. Chopped dried cherries or apricots, plumped up by soaking in in hot water or sherry brighten the taste of steamed cabbage rolls or those that have been cooked in plain broth. Stewed tomatoes, pineapple chunks and a splash of apple cider vinegar poured over cabbage rolls before baking creates a tangy sweet and sour entree.