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

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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.

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Questions

What is Holubtsi?

Tender cabbage rolls stuffed with seasoned ground meat and rice, simmered in a tangy tomato sauce until fall-apart tender. This reference files it under Ukrainian dinner: made on the stovetop and in the oven, rated medium and about 100 minutes start to finish.

What temperature do I cook Holubtsi at?

For Holubtsi, the oven is set to 350 F (about 175 C) in step 3. The longest stretch at that heat is 1 hour, in step 7. The target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 7. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why blanch first in Holubtsi?

Step 1 reads: "Carefully remove the outer leaves of 1 lg head green cabbage and blanch them for 3-4 minutes until pliable." The quick boil in step 1 sets the color and takes off the raw edge. If the step follows it with cold water, that is to stop the cooking at once so the vegetables stay bright and crisp.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in Holubtsi?

Yes. Choose turkey that is not extra-lean and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan, because turkey has less fat and browns more slowly. Season it a little harder than you would beef. As written, the entry for Holubtsi uses 2 lbs ground beef.

How many calories are in Holubtsi?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 320 calories, with 22 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat, plus 4 g fiber and 580 mg sodium.

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