Polish Cabbage Rolls (Golabki or Halupki)

Eating European Polish Cabbage Rolls (Golabki or Halupki)

These Polish cabbage rolls are a conventional dish crammed with pork, rice, onions, and spices, all wrapped in tender cabbage leaves and baked in a savory tomato sauce. Known in Poland as Golabki or Halupki, this hearty traditional is a household favourite throughout Europe and a must-try if you happen to love healthful, home-cooked flavors.

Author’s Notes for Polish Cabbage Rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a traditional Polish consolation meals, typically served at household gatherings, Sunday dinners, and vacation celebrations. While the standard filling combines pork with rice and onions, many households create their very own variations, utilizing beef, veal, turkey, or a mixture of a number of forms of meat. The sauce combines tomato paste and rooster broth, thickened barely for a wealthy, flavorful end.

The key to good rolls is choosing the proper cabbage. Young summer time or Italian cabbage works fantastically as a result of the leaves are softer and far simpler to wrap across the filling. Once baked, the leaves take up the tomato sauce, changing into tender and flavorful.

Looking for a lighter possibility? Try my Skinny Stuffed Cabbage Rolls for a special take. For much more inspiration, don’t miss my Kielbasa and Cabbage, a contemporary Summer Kapusniak (Cabbage Soup), or the heartier Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup.

Main Ingredients and Substitutions

Refer to the recipe card to see the complete record of elements with measurements!

  • Pork – The conventional alternative in a Polish cabbage rolls recipe, providing a wealthy, juicy taste that balances properly with the rice and tomato sauce. You may substitute beef for a heartier style, or turkey and veal for a lighter possibility.
  • Cabbage – Young summer time or Italian cabbage has tender leaves, making it good for cabbage rolls, Polish model. If your cabbage is more durable, boiling it a bit longer will assist loosen and soften the leaves.
  • Rice – White rice is traditional, offering bulk and serving to maintain the filling collectively. Brown rice can be utilized for a nuttier taste and extra fiber, although it is going to take a bit longer to prepare dinner.
  • Onions and Garlic – These add savory depth and pure sweetness to the filling. They additionally steadiness the richness of the meat and tomato sauce.
  • Tomato Paste – Adds concentrated tomato taste and helps thicken the sauce. A small quantity goes a good distance.
  • Chicken Broth – Provides a savory base that balances the tomato, or swap in vegetable broth to make it vegetarian.

How to Make the Perfect Polish Cabbage Rolls Recipe

  1. Cook the Rice – Start by simmering the rice in salted water till tender, then set it apart to chill when you put together the remainder.
  2. Prepare the Cabbage – Remove the core and boil the entire head for about 15-20 minutes, flipping if wanted, so all of the leaves soften. Once cool sufficient to deal with, gently separate the leaves and trim away the powerful middle ribs. Use the bigger outer leaves to line the underside of your baking dish.
  3. Make the Filling – Sauté onions in butter till flippantly golden, then stir within the garlic for additional taste. Combine this combination with the cooled rice, uncooked pork, and seasonings till properly mixed.
  4. Assemble the Rolls – Place just a few spoonfuls of filling within the middle of every cabbage leaf, fold within the sides, and roll them up snugly. Arrange the rolls seam-side down within the baking dish so that they keep safe whereas cooking.
  5. Make the Sauce – Heat the rooster broth on the range till sizzling. In a cup, stir the tomato paste with a bit of the broth till clean, then pour the combination into the pot and produce to a boil. Whisk collectively the flour and chilly water, then slowly add it to the broth. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring, till the sauce thickens.
  6. Bake – Pour the sauce over the cabbage rolls, cowl the dish with foil, and bake at 375°F for about 90 minutes.

Storing, Reheating, and Make-ahead

Once cooled, retailer your Polish cabbage rolls in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.

To reheat, cowl with foil and heat within the oven till sizzling, or gently reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth.

For longer storage, wrap the rolls tightly in foil, place them in freezer luggage, and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I hold stuffed cabbage rolls from falling aside?

Ensure you narrow out the thick core from every leaf earlier than rolling, and at all times tuck the perimeters in tightly earlier than folding over. Lining the underside of the dish with additional leaves additionally helps hold the rolls comfortable whereas baking, and it is best to at all times place cabbage rolls seam aspect down within the pan.

Can I take advantage of cooked meat within the filling?

I choose utilizing uncooked floor meat in my Polish cabbage rolls recipe as a result of it companies up because it bakes and provides the rolls a hearty, conventional texture. However, you may completely use cooked meat if you happen to choose a softer filling. Both variations are widespread when making cabbage rolls Polish model, so it’s all about your desire.

Can I put together these Polish cabbage rolls forward of time?

Yes! You can assemble the rolls a day upfront, place them in a baking dish, cowl tightly, and retailer them within the fridge till you’re able to prepare dinner. When it’s time to bake, simply add the sauce and pop them within the oven.

Filling for Golabki

  • 1½ lbs pork
  • ½ cup dry rice
  • 1 giant yellow or candy onion chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp marjoram non-compulsory

Tomato Sauce

  • 4 cups rooster broth (Better than Bouillon – 1 tablespoon per 2 cups of sizzling water)
  • 4 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour

Prepare the Rolls

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.

  • Place rice in a pot and canopy with 1 cup of water and a sprinkle of salt. Bring to a boil, then decrease the warmth to low and simmer for about quarter-hour till the rice is cooked by way of. Once the rice is cooked, set it apart to chill off.

  • Using a pairing knife, fastidiously take away the core from the cabbage.

  • Bring a big pot of water to a boil. The pot must be sufficiently big to accommodate the entire cabbage head. Once the water is boiling, place the cabbage within the sizzling water and prepare dinner for about 15 -20 minutes. If your entire cabbage just isn’t submerged within the water, flip it midway by way of.

  • Carefully take away the cabbage from the recent water and let it cool off. I often use two giant forks to take it out.

  • In the meantime, warmth 2 tablespoons of butter within the frying pan, and add chopped onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes till flippantly golden brown.

  • Add minced garlic to the onions and prepare dinner for an additional minute. Set it apart and let it cool off.

  • Once the cabbage is cooled off, fastidiously begin eradicating the leaves, one by one. Do not throw out the outer leaves; use them to position on the backside of the baking dish. I like to recommend the 9/13 measurement of the baking dish.

  • Once you will have a inventory of leaves, utilizing a pairing knife, take away the exhausting half from the leaf.

  • In a bowl, mix the meat, cooled rice, and onions/garlic combination; add salt, pepper, and marjoram and blend properly.

  • Use one leaf at a time and add 2-4 tablespoons of the meat/rice filling, relying on the dimensions of the leaf.

  • Fold the aspect components of the leaf inwards after which backside to the highest (in an analogous manner that you’d fold the wrap).

  • Place all of the folded rolls into the ready baking dish on high of the large leaves.

Make the Sauce

  • In a separate pot sufficiently big to accommodate 4 cups of liquid, warmth up the rooster broth.

  • Add tomato paste to a cup and canopy with sizzling broth. Mix properly till the tomato paste is absolutely integrated.

  • Add the tomato paste combination to the recent broth and produce to a boil.

  • Add 4 tablespoons of flour to the cup and canopy it with half a cup of chilly water. Mix properly. Then add the flower combination to the tomato broth and produce to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes till the flour thickens the sauce. Check for the seasoning and add salt and pepper if wanted.

Assemble

  • Pour the sauce over the cabbage rolls.

  • Cover the cabbage rolls with foil and place them within the 375°F sizzling oven.

  • Bake for 90 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven and let cool off barely earlier than serving.

  • Serve along with your favourite salad on the aspect.

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1370mg | Potassium: 784mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 441IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3mg


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