Ukraine · Vegetable and Mushroom Dishes
Golubtsy (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
Tender cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of ground meat and rice, simmered in a rich tomato-sour cream sauce until soft and juicy.
Ingredients
- white cabbage1 piece
- ground beef and pork300 g
- round-grain rice100 g
- onions2 piece
- carrots300 g
- tomato paste3 tbsp
- sour cream100 ml
- bay leaves3 piece
- vegetable oil2 tbsp
Method
- 1Remove the core from the cabbage. Lower the head into boiling water. As the outer leaves soften, peel them off one by one. Trim the thick rib from each leaf.
- 2Parboil the rice for about 10 minutes; drain. Mix the ground meat with the rice, one finely diced onion, salt and pepper.
- 3Place a portion of filling on each leaf. Fold the two side edges in toward the center, then roll from the base into a tight cylinder.
- 4For the sauce: sauté the second onion and carrots in 2 tbsp oil until soft. Add tomato paste, 500–700 ml water or broth and sour cream. Bring to a boil; season with salt and pepper.
- 5Line the bottom of a large pot with a few cabbage leaves. Arrange the rolls snugly on top. Pour the sauce over. Tuck in the bay leaves. Simmer covered on low heat 45–60 minutes. Add fresh herbs 5 minutes before the end if desired.