Holubtsi

Name: Holubtsi
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Ukrainian
Ingredients: 1 lg head green cabbage; 2 lbs ground beef; 1.5 cups white rice, cooked; 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cans tomato sauce (canned); 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 2 cups chicken broth; 2 tbsp butter

Tender cabbage rolls stuffed with seasoned ground meat and rice, simmered in a tangy tomato sauce until fall-apart tender.

100 minMediumServes 6320 cal/serving

UkrainianDinnerStovetop and OvenStandard

Ingredients

1 lg head green cabbage
2 lbs ground beef
1.5 cups white rice, cooked
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans tomato sauce (canned)
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp butter

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully remove the outer leaves of 1 lg head green cabbage and blanch them for 3-4 minutes until pliable. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat until you have 12 leaves.
2

In a large bowl, combine 2 lbs ground beef, 1.5 cups cooked white rice, 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
3

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
4

Place about 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture on each cabbage leaf, fold in the sides, and roll tightly into a cylinder.
5

In a large baking dish, whisk together 2 cans tomato sauce (canned), 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Add 2 tbsp butter and stir.
6

Arrange the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the sauce.
7

Cover with foil and bake for 60 minutes, until the rolls are tender, the sauce is bubbling, and the internal temperature of the 2 lbs ground beef reaches 160°F.
8

Serve hot with the sauce spooned over top.

Questions

Can I make Holubtsi dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 2 tbsp butter. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Holubtsi ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Holubtsi?

Yes. As written it serves 6. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

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