Czech Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of ground beef, ground pork, rice, spices and baked in tomato sauce.

Known to the Czech’s as Holubky, this is the hearty comfort food of Eastern Europe.  While the recipe would appear to be a variation of the cabbage rolls many North Americans are familiar with, most would be surprised to learn that cabbage rolls have been very popular for centuries in slavic countries.

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Czech Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of ground beef, ground pork, rice, spices and baked in tomato sauce.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Eastern European

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 450kcal

Author: Kevin Lamoureux

Ingredients

For the Filling

• 1½ lb lean ground beef
• ½ lb ground pork or mild sausage
• 1½ cups uncooked converted rice
• 1 large egg
• 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp hot paprika or cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp caraway seed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

For the pan

• 1 head cabbage
• 2 cups drained sauerkraut
• 1, 28 oz can tomato sauce
• 1, 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 can condensed tomato soup
• 2 cups tomato juice

Instructions

• Remove core from cabbage while leaving the rest of the head intact.
• In a large pot with a steamer basket, place the head of cabbage on the basket with the core side down.
• Soften cabbage leaves by steaming for 5 minutes or until wilted.
• Allow to cool, separate leaves and set to dry on tea towel.
• In a large bowl, mix meat, onions, garlic, rice, eggs, and seasonings
• Spread tomato sauce followed by the sauerkraut on the bottom of a large roast pan.
• Remove thick centre stems from leaves with a pearing knive
• Chop up unused cabbage pieces and add to bottom of pan
• Roll meat into leaves cigar style
• Layer rolls in roast pan
• Cover with tomato juice, tomato soup and diced tomatoes
• On top of the stove, bring sauce to a boil then transfer to preheated oven
• Bake covered at 325° F for 2 hours