Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce
Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls Packed with Flavor
Holubtsi are traditional Ukrainian cabbage rolls filled with a savory mixture of rice and meat, simmered in a rich tomato sauce and served with a tangy sour cream accompaniment.
- 2 h 30 min
- 6
- Intermediate
Ingredients
For the Cabbage Rolls
For the Tomato Sauce
For the Sour Cream Sauce
Preparation
Preparing the Cabbage Leaves
Boil water
In a large pot, bring water to a boil.
Blanch cabbage leaves
Carefully remove cabbage leaves and blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes until pliable.
Dry leaves
Drain and pat dry with a towel.
Preparing the Filling
Combine ingredients
In a bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, and egg.
Be careful not to overfill the cabbage leaves to prevent tearing. For an extra rich filling, add a handful of sautéed mushrooms.
Season filling
Season with salt and pepper.
Mix filling
Mix until well combined.
Cooking Process
Rolling and Filling the Cabbage
Place a heaping tablespoon of filling into each cabbage leaf and roll tightly, tucking in the sides.
Preparing the Tomato Sauce
In a saucepan, combine tomato juice, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaf, paprika, and thyme. Stir and bring to a simmer.
Cooking the Rolls
Layer cabbage rolls in a deep oven-safe dish, pour tomato sauce over them, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1.5 hours.
Plating & Serving
Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce
Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce
Plating & Serving
Serve the cabbage rolls on a large platter, spooning extra tomato sauce over the top, and drizzle with sour cream sauce.