Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (2024)

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Whether you call these golubtsi, golabki, golumpki, or simply Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, you're going to love this classic Eastern European dinner. This recipe is the perfect combination of beef, rice, cabbage baked in a tasty tomato sauce. Hearty, delicious, and full of healthy ingredients!

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (1)

Not to get allfood-blogger-life-story on you, but homemade cabbage rolls was something my grandma made when we were growing up. It is such a hearty, satisfying meal that I absolutely missed from childhood, so I had to recreate it and share the recipe with you.

Even if you're not typically a fan of cabbage, this golubtsi recipe is worth trying. It is absolutely different than the plain, mushy boiled cabbage we all eat once a year for St. Patrick's day.

This recipe is full of flavor, thanks for a special seasonings added to the beef and rice filling. The way that the cabbage holds in the beef and rice and other ingredients is perfect and has such a great flavor and texture.

Related recipe:Cabbage and Kielbasa Stir Fry

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (2)

Ingredients:

  • 1 large head of cabbage (approximately 15-18 leaves)
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
  • ¾ cup uncooked white rice
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 10-oz cans of tomato soup (I used Campbell’s)
  • 1 large egg

You'll also need:

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (3)

Related recipe:Sauteed Cabbage with Bacon

How to make homemade cabbage rolls:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Carefully remove approximately 15-18 leaves from the cabbage.

Step 3: Fill a large stockpot with water and bring it to a boil. Place the cabbage leaves in the boiling water and simmer until softened, about 30 seconds to a minute. You might need to do this in a few batches. Set the cooked cabbage leaves aside.

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (4)

Step 4: While the cabbage is simmering, combine the ground beef, rice, onion, seasonings, and egg, mixing well. It is OK to overmix this mixture, it should be like a thick paste.

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Step 5: Open one can of tomato soup and pour it into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish, then use a large spoon to spread it around.

Step 6: Once the cabbage leaves have cooled, fill each cabbage leaf with about ½ cup of the meat and rice mixture. Roll the cabbage leaf end over the meat mixture, fold the sides of the cabbage leaf in, and then roll completely closed.

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Step 7: Place the rolled cabbage rolls seam side down in the prepared baking pan and repeat with all the leaves and meat mixture.

Step 8: Pour the second can of tomato soup over the prepared cabbage rolls.

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Step 9: Cover with foil and bake for 90 minutes.

Related recipe:Cabbage Fritters

Tips for making cabbage rolls

  • Make certain to let the cabbage rolls cool before filling them.
  • If you prefer a suuuper soft rice inside your cabbage rolls, you can pre-cook the rice for about 10 minutes before mixing it with the ground beef.
  • If you can't get the cabbage leaves to stay closed once they are rolled up, you might have too much filling inside. Take a little bit out and try again.
  • Make certain to put the seams down on the cabbage rolls so that they bake and stay closed. Otherwise, all the goodness will spill out into the pan.... but even if the goodness spills out, it is absolutely delicious all mixed in with the tomato sauce!

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (8)

Related recipe:Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

Ground beef substitutions for stuffed cabbage

I love subbing out half of the ground beef for ground pork or ground turkey. These cabbage rolls can be made with just ground turkey, ground pork, or ground lamb instead of beef.

What side dishes go well with homemade cabbage rolls

We love sopping up the sauce with some bread - try making a homemade baguette or toasting whole wheat bread. If you want to add a traditional Eastern European salad to your meal, try making this Russian Beet Salad as a starter.

However you decide to serve this homemade cabbage roll recipe,please take a picture and tag me on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK. You can find me at @babaganoshblog on both. I love seeing your creations!

Why are my cabbage rolls tough?

If the texture of your cabbage rolls are tough, it just means that you need to cook them for a little bit longer. They shouldn't have a chew to them at all once they're cooked all the way through.

Related recipe:Draniki (Russian Potato Fritters)

Can I freeze cabbage rolls?

You sure can freeze cabbage rolls! The key is to freeze them before you cook them in the oven. Just cover and add to your freezer. When you're ready to cook, let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook according to the recipe.

How long can cabbage rolls stay in the fridge?

Leftover stuffed cabbage rolls need to be eaten within 3 days to make sure that they're still fresh and delicious. But they never really last that long anyway! 🙂

Don’t miss these other recipes using cabbage:

  • Sweet and Sour Cabbage Stir Fry with Pork
  • Crunchy Soba Noodle and Red Cabbage Stir Fry

Other Eastern European recipes to try:

  • Syrniki
  • Air fryer kielbasa
  • Zapekanka
  • Fried cauliflower
  • Buttermilk blini

If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (9)

Print Recipe

4.85 from 46 votes

Homemade Cabbage Rolls

This is my absolute favorite golubtsi recipe (stuffed cabbage). Just a few minutes of prep and hands-on time, then the cabbage rolls are baked in a delicious tomato sauce until perfection!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Eastern European, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian

Servings: 4

Author: Kate

Ingredients

  • 1 large cabbage - (you'll need approximately 15-18 leaves)
  • lb ground beef
  • ¾ cup uncooked white rice
  • 1 medium onion - diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 10-oz cans of tomato soup - (I used Campbell’s)

Special equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Carefully remove approximately 15-18 leaves from the cabbage.

  • Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil. Place the cabbage leaves in the boiling water and simmer until softened, about 30 seconds to a minute. Set the cooked cabbage leaves aside.

  • While the cabbage is simmering, combine the ground beef, rice, onion, seasonings, and egg, mixing well.

  • Open one can of tomato soup and pour it into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish, then use a large spoon to spread it around.

  • Once the cabbage leaves have cooled, fill each cabbage leaf with about ½ cup of the meat and rice mixture. Roll the cabbage leaf end over the meat mixture, fold the sides of the cabbage leaf in, and then roll completely closed.

  • Place the rolled cabbage rolls seam side down in the prepared baking pan and repeat with all the leaves and meat mixture.

  • Pour the second can of tomato soup over the prepared cabbage rolls.

  • Cover with foil and bake for 90 minutes.

Notes

  • Try these with a mixture of ground beef and ground pork or ground turkey!
  • If your cabbage rolls are not staying rolled, try stuffing them with a little less meat mixture to make sure stay closed.
  • Turn this into a freezer meal: prepare the cabbage rolls in an aluminum foil tray and freeze. When ready to serve, simply thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal (31%) | Carbohydrates: 37g (12%) | Protein: 35g (70%) | Fat: 35g (54%) | Saturated Fat: 14g (70%) | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 162mg (54%) | Sodium: 529mg (22%) | Potassium: 806mg (23%) | Fiber: 4g (16%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 188IU (4%) | Vitamin C: 43mg (52%) | Calcium: 110mg (11%) | Iron: 5mg (28%)

The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.

Golubtsi Recipe (Easy Russian Stuffed Cabbage) (2024)

FAQs

What is Golubtsi made of? ›

Cabbage leaves stuffed with a savoury combination of ground beef, pork, rice and vegetables, then cooked in the oven in a creamy tomato sauce.

Why is my stuffed cabbage tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

What are Ukrainian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.

What country does stuffed cabbage come from? ›

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a popular Polish dish. Pork and beef mixed with rice or barley are nestled in a cabbage leaf and cooked in the oven or on the stove until tender.

What is the difference between Halupki and Golumpki? ›

In our Polish heritage, they're actually called Gołąbki (also known as Golumpki, Gwumpki, and Golabki), but the Slovak areas made the name Halupki a more recognizable name than Golumpki. Some people just call them "stuffed cabbage leaves" or even "cabbage casserole." We call them delicious!

Why is it called Golabki? ›

“Gołąbki” that's the Polish term for stuffed cabbage rolls. Though the word literally means “doves” it has become globally recognized as the name for one of Poland's most well known dishes too.

What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

You don't add baking soda. Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

How many days is stuffed cabbage good for? ›

Do you want to eat the stuffed cabbage in the next week? If so, place them in the refrigerator. The stuffed cabbage will stay fresh for up to 1 week. If not, place them in the freezer.

Is cabbage popular in Russia? ›

Cabbage, potatoes, and cold-tolerant greens are common in Russian and other Eastern European cuisines. Pickling cabbage (sauerkraut), cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables in brine is used to preserve vegetables for winter use. Pickled apples and some other fruit also used to be widely popular.

What are German cabbage rolls made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 lb ground beef.
  2. 1 lb ground pork.
  3. 4 ounces nice smoked bacon, diced fine.
  4. 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper.
  5. 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes (optional)
  6. 1 tablespoon good paprika (optional)
  7. 1 medium onion, diced fine.
  8. 1 -2 head sour cabbage.

What are Hungarian cabbage rolls made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 heads cabbage.
  2. Filling.
  3. 2 cups long grain rice, scalded.
  4. 2 lbs lean ground beef.
  5. 1 lb fresh lean pork sausage.
  6. 2 small onions, minced.
  7. 4 eggs, beaten.
  8. 1 cup water.

Can you eat cabbage raw? ›

In addition to being super healthy, cabbage is delicious. It can be eaten raw or cooked and added to a wide variety of dishes like salads, soups, stews, and slaws. This versatile veggie can even be fermented and made into sauerkraut. In addition to being adaptable to many recipes, cabbage is extremely affordable.

What ethnicity is cabbage rolls? ›

Although the direct heritage of cabbage rolls cannot be certain, it's lineage can be traced back to Jewish cooking some 2,000 years ago. Recipes vary among Jewish communities depending on region; Romanians and northern Poles prefer a savory sauce, while Jews from Galicia and Ukraine favor sweet-and-sour.

What is stuffed cabbage made of? ›

Stuffed Cabbage is an old-fashioned family recipe that is easy to make and comforting. The combination of beef, onion, mustard, and brown rice is stuffed into cabbage leaves. Each leaf is then nestled into a baking dish and the whole thing is topped with a simmered tomato sauce and baked.

What are cabbage rolls made of? ›

Cabbage rolls are a dish where tender cabbage leaves are wrapped around meat and rice filling, then baked in tomato sauce. Cabbage rolls are a staple in many Eastern European cuisines and recipes vary greatly.

What is the white powder on purple cabbage? ›

It has been observed that white mold is more prevalent in bean and cabbage crops where there is restricted air circulation caused by low areas and woods surrounding the field. This is because poor air drainage allows moisture to be retained in the soil and on the plants for a longer period of time.

What is Jamaican cabbage made of? ›

Jamaican Cabbage is a popular side dish in Jamaica. It is easy to prepare and very flavorful. Shredded cabbage and carrots are cooked with onion, garlic, bell pepper, and thyme. This Jamaican Cabbage recipe is easy to prepare, super delicious, and nutritious.

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