Recipe: Holubtsi (Ukrainian-Style Stuffed Cabbage)
Mamushka author Olia Hercules packs a tart surprise in her stuffed cabbage
Ukrainian holubtsi, or stuffed cabbage leaves, are the perfect warm comfort food for a chilly day. In her version, Mamushka author Olia Hercules mixes pork and beef with barberries, giving the dish a beautiful sour note. If barberries are hard to find, you can substitute currants or raisins soaked in lemon juice.
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When you're cooking, snuggle the rolls next to each other so they don't unravel.
To learn more, read "Just like Mamushka Used to Make."
Recipe adapted from "Mamushka: A Cookbook, Recipes from Ukraine & Eastern Europe," by Olia Hercules
Holubtsi (Ukrainian-Style Stuffed Cabbage)
Mamushka author Olia Hercules makes pork-stuffed cabbage braised in tomato sauce.
Prep Time
30
minutes
Cook Time
1.33
hours
servings
4
servings
Total time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 to 14 large savoy cabbage leaves (1 large cabbage)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced and divided
- 1 large carrot, peeled and finely grated
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- One 14½ -ounce can chopped tomatoes
- 1⅔ cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 8 ounces ground pork
- ¼ cup white long-grain rice, parboiled for 5 minutes
- ¼ cup chopped dill
- Sour cream, for serving
- Sliced sourdough bread, for serving
Optional Ingredients
- ⅓ cup barberries (optional)
Directions
- Prepare a large ice bath and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, blanch the cabbage leaves until bright green and pliable, 1½ to 2 minutes per leaf. Shock in the ice bath and transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
- In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add half of the onion and all of the grated carrot, and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sugar, and cook until lightly caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, water and bay leaves, and cook until reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt to taste.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meats, barberries (if using), parboiled rice and the remaining diced onion. Season with the salt and gently toss with your hands to mix, just until combined.
- Working with 1 cabbage leaf at time with the stem end facing toward you, place 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling into the center of the leaf. Fold the sides of cabbage over the filling, then roll up. Arrange the rolls, seam-side down, into the pot to form one even layer. Bring the pot to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover with the lid slightly ajar and simmer until the filling is cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes.
- Top the stuffed cabbage with the chopped dill and serve with sour cream and sourdough bread.
Nutrition
| Calories per Serving | 494 |
| Total Fat | 31.9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 9.9 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.7 g |
| Cholesterol | 83.0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 28.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 7.5 g |
| Sodium | 923.1 mg |
| Protein | 23.7 g |
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
