Main Course · Dinner · Eastern European ·

Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce

Name: Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Cabbage, 1 large, cored; Ground beef, 1 lb; Cooked rice, 1 cup; Onion, 1, finely chopped; Garlic, 2 cloves, minced; Egg, 1; Salt and pepper, to taste; Tomato juice, 2 cups; Tomato paste, 1 can (6 oz); Sugar, 1 tbsp; Bay leaf, 1; Paprika, 1 tsp; Dried thyme, 1 tsp; Sour cream, 1 cup; Lemon juice, 1 tbsp; Fresh dill, 1 tbsp, chopped; Salt, to taste

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.

5(116 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 24, 2025

Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cabbage Rolls

For the Tomato Sauce

For the Sour Cream Sauce

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 345 kcal
Protein: 20.7 g
Carbs: 25.8 g
Fat: 19.2 g
Fiber: 3.2 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2069 kcal
Protein: 124 g
Carbs: 154.7 g
Fat: 114.9 g
Fiber: 19.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Cabbage 1 large, cored	90	5	20	0	8
Ground beef 1 lb	884	92	0	60	0
Cooked rice 1 cup	205	4	45	0.5	1
Onion 1, finely chopped	44	1	11	0.1	2
Garlic 2 cloves, minced	9	0.5	2	0	0.1
Egg 1	68	6	1	5	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Tomato juice 2 cups	72	3	18	0.4	2
Tomato paste 1 can (6 oz)	139	7	32	0.5	5
Sugar 1 tbsp	49	0	13	0	0
Bay leaf 1	1	0	0.2	0	0.1
Paprika 1 tsp	6	0.3	1.2	0.3	0.7
Dried thyme 1 tsp	3	0.1	0.8	0.1	0.4
Sour cream 1 cup	492	5	9	48	0
Lemon juice 1 tbsp	4	0.1	1.3	0	0.1
Fresh dill 1 tbsp, chopped	1	0	0.2	0	0.1
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Cabbage Leaves

1
Boil water
In a large pot, bring water to a boil.
2
Blanch cabbage leaves
Carefully remove cabbage leaves and blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes until pliable.
3
Dry leaves
Drain and pat dry with a towel.

Preparing the Filling

1
Combine ingredients
In a bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, and egg.
Tip: Be careful not to overfill the cabbage leaves to prevent tearing. For an extra rich filling, add a handful of sautéed mushrooms.
2
Season filling
Season with salt and pepper.
3
Mix filling
Mix until well combined.

How to Make Hearty Ukrainian Holubtsi with Sour Cream Sauce

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Rolling and Filling the Cabbage
Place a heaping tablespoon of filling into each cabbage leaf and roll tightly, tucking in the sides.
2
Preparing the Tomato Sauce
In a saucepan, combine tomato juice, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaf, paprika, and thyme. Stir and bring to a simmer.
3
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.