Description
Polish comfort meets culinary artistry in these hearty Golabki cabbage rolls, packed with savory ground meat and rice. Warm, satisfying flavors dance across your palate, inviting you to savor a traditional Eastern European classic that connects generations through its delicious simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 egg, beaten
Grain and Vegetables:
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 cabbage leaves
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 can (14 ounces/414 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Gently separate whole cabbage leaves, removing any tough stems, ensuring leaves remain intact without tearing.
- Submerge leaves in rapidly boiling water for approximately 2 minutes until they become flexible and bright green, then immediately transfer to cold water to halt cooking process.
- Craft filling by thoroughly blending ground beef with cooked rice, finely chopped onions, minced garlic, whisked egg, and aromatic herbs until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Position each softened cabbage leaf flat, placing a compact portion of meat mixture near the leaf’s base.
- Skillfully fold leaf’s bottom edge over filling, then carefully tuck side edges inward while rolling to create a compact, sealed parcel.
- Lightly grease ceramic baking dish and nestle rolled cabbage bundles seam-side downward, arranging them snugly without overcrowding.
- Whisk tomato sauce with brown sugar, tangy lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce to create a robust, balanced coating.
- Generously drizzle prepared sauce over cabbage rolls, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Shield baking dish with aluminum foil and roast in preheated 350°F oven for approximately 60 minutes until meat reaches safe internal temperature and cabbage becomes tender.
- Allow rolls to rest briefly before serving, spooning additional warm sauce over each parcel for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Carefully peel cabbage leaves to avoid tearing by gently removing them from the head after brief boiling.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a lighter, healthier version.
- Prepare extra rolls and freeze uncooked for convenient future meals, maintaining optimal texture and flavor.
- Use cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice to create a low-carb, gluten-free filling that’s equally delicious.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg