Main Course · Eastern European · Dinner ·

Tender Polish Golabki with Tomato Sauce

Name: Tender Polish Golabki with Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 large head of white cabbage; 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 lb ground pork; 1 cup cooked rice; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 2 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 cans tomato sauce, (15 oz each); 1/2 cup tomato paste; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 bay leaves; Olive oil, for greasing; Fresh dill, for garnish

Delight in these traditional Polish cabbage rolls filled with savory meat and rice, bathed in a rich tomato sauce.

4.7(416 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 4, 2025

Tender Polish Golabki with Tomato 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 Simmering

For the Baking Dish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 547 kcal
Protein: 27.17 g
Carbs: 43 g
Fat: 29.17 g
Fiber: 6.33 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3283 kcal
Protein: 163 g
Carbs: 258 g
Fat: 175 g
Fiber: 38 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 large head of white cabbage	300	15	60	2	25
1 lb ground beef	1150	77	0	90	0
1/2 lb ground pork	750	38	0	65	0
1 cup cooked rice	205	4	45	0	1
1 small onion finely chopped	40	1	9	0	2
2 eggs lightly beaten	140	12	1	10	0
2 cloves garlic minced	10	0	2	0	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 cans tomato sauce (15 oz each)	280	10	56	2	8
1/2 cup tomato paste	140	5	32	1	2
1/4 cup brown sugar	200	0	52	0	0
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar	6	0	0	0	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup chicken broth	15	1	1	0	0
2 bay leaves	6	0	1	0	0
Olive oil for greasing	40	0	0	5	0
Fresh dill for garnish	1	0	0	0	0

These are estimated values and not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Cabbage

1
Cutting the Cabbage
Cut out the core from the cabbage head.
2
Boiling the Cabbage
Boil the whole cabbage for 5-7 minutes to soften the leaves.
3
Peeling Leaves
Carefully peel off the leaves and set aside.

Making the Filling

1
Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, rice, onion, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper.
2
Mix Filling
Mix until well combined but do not overmix.
3
Roll Golabki
Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture on each cabbage leaf and roll up, tucking in the sides.
Tip: Do not overfill the cabbage leaves, as they might tear during cooking. Pro Tip: Use a toothpick to secure the rolls if necessary.

How to Make Tender Polish Golabki with Tomato Sauce

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Prepare Baking Dish
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a large baking dish with olive oil.
2
Layer Golabki
Place a layer of unused cabbage leaves at the bottom of the dish and arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down over them.
3
Combine and Pour Sauce
Mix tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper; pour this mixture over the cabbage rolls.
4
Cooking Times & Temperatures
Boil cabbage for 15 minutes, then bake rolls for 1 h 30 min at 350°F (175°C).