Rice Holubtsi|Ukrainian Cabbage Roll Recipe - The Mad Scientists Kitchen

Last Updated on 4 months ago

Rice Holubtsi- Ukrainian Cabbage Roll Recipe

Ukrainian food (and the cuisine of neighbouring countries) tends to be rich, heavy on the meat, butter and starches, and vegetables are hardly used. This makes some sense when you consider the cold climate and the very short growing season. Most veggies had to be preserved via canning or pickling, and wheat and potatoes were winter staples.

The authors have shared at length the delicious foods they have enjoyed as a child. I liked the food as well as the way they have described it so I am sharing them,” Because of the natural variances in family and cultural traditions, each and every one of us probably has a different idea of what holiday food is. Growing up, my family has always enjoyed homemade perogies and cabbage rolls (holubtsi), mashed potatoes, homemade buns, and the very non-vegan turkey and sausage. Some families eat something called “Kutia”, which is delicious cooked wheat with lots of sugar, poppy seeds and pecans, great for breakfast. Saurkraut and dilled pickles are also very common around here, as is borscht (check out my fave recipe for borsht) and all kinds of breads and pastries.”

This Ukrainian cabbage roll recipe is simple, though rolling them up takes time and patience so it’s something that
can be done in a group. Sounds like a fun-filled activity especially during the holidays. At the end of the recipe, I’ll give some suggestions for easy variations if you want to go beyond just rice. “

I made these rolls twice. First I made them and half baked them left them on the kitchen counter and went to work. The idea was I will continue with the baking in the evening.

Hardly I step in the evening younger one said,” Whatever you made and was lying on the platform was tasty but too
tough to eat I finished them all.” So the second round. Must say the rolls were extremely tasty! This is a part of the series “Around the World in 30 Days”!

Rice Holubtsi- Ukrainian Cabbage Roll Recipe

Recipe Source : Here

Ingredients:

1 large head of green cabbage
4 cups half cooked rice ( I used 2 flat cups or uncooked rice)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
2 tblspn butter
½ cup onion, finely chopped
2 tblspn cheese, grated
1 tomato soup packet + 1 ¼ cup water
¼ cup butter

Method:

Remove the tough outer leaves and set them aside.
Place the cabbage in a microwaveable container cover with a microwaveable cling film and microwave on high for in 5 minutes spurts twice. This will soften the leaves enough for making rolls without boiling the cabbage.
Cut out the core from the cabbage and separate the whole leaves from the head set aside in a bowl.
In a large bowl, combine the rice, salt and pepper and cheese.
In a small kadhai/wok low heat, melt the 2 tblspn of butter.
Add the onion and fry until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add the onion mixture to the bowl of rice.
In a same kadhai/wok medium make the tomato soup with the 1 ¼ cup of water. Bring to a boil.
Add the remaining butter. This tomato sauce will be used to spread over each layer of cabbage rolls.
Line the bottom of a pan with a couple of the reserved outer cabbage leaves so that the cabbage rolls don’t
stick to the bottom.

To assemble:

Now let’s start rolling:

For that you arrange the bowl of cabbage leaves, the bowl of rice with a spoon, the tomato sauce with a ladle, the pan to arrange the rolls, a cutting board and a knife, and a dry towel to rid the cabbage of excess moisture, if necessary.

For the cabbage rolls:

The choice is yours either cut each cabbage leaf in half lengthwise or leave it whole to make large cabbage rolls.
However cut off any tough stem remaining on the leaf, and place a tablespoon or two of rice on the bottom of
each half.
Roll it up while pinching in the sides if there’s a side left exposed that’s okay.
Place the cabbage rolls in the pan so that they’re quite snug, and after you complete a layer of cabbage rolls, ladle
on some of the tomato soup mixture.
Continue until you run out of rice and/or cabbage. Top with all of the remaining tomato soup mixture.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cover the pan with tin foil and bake for about 2 hours, or until the cabbage leaves are tender when they’re pricked with a fork.
Serve warm!!
Kiddo had it with some cheese spread!!!

Rice Holubtsi- Ukrainian Cabbage Roll Recipe

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Comments

Usha says

September 24, 2014 at 12:53 pm

Those must have been so tasty that she at them even they were tough to eat. Nice recipe.

Varadas Kitchen says

September 24, 2014 at 1:04 pm

Nice choice. The rolls look great. I remember making Ukranian cabbage rolls last year. The kitchen was a mess but the rolls were delicious.

Priya Suresh says

September 24, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Love the stuffing of this rolls, you nailed those cabbage rolls simply prefect Archana, am drooling here.

Srivalli says

September 26, 2014 at 12:24 pm

hahah..that say how tasty this must have been…very nice ones Archana..

vaishali sabnani says

September 27, 2014 at 12:09 pm

I make a Indian version with these cabbage leaves..must try this one too .sounds yum..and next time don't leave dishes on the counter..I normally hide them in my oven where no one can see :))

Harini-Jaya R says

September 29, 2014 at 1:54 am

Wow! these look so yumm!

Pavani N says

October 07, 2014 at 2:39 am

Those stuffed cabbage rolls look so delicious.

Gayathri Kumar says

October 08, 2014 at 8:40 am

I have made this and loved it so much. Yours looks fabulous..

Suma Gandlur says

October 09, 2014 at 2:44 am

These are wonderful Archana and I will give them a try. What kind of cheese did you use for the filling?

Sreevalli E says

October 10, 2014 at 12:11 am

Wow.. Those cabbage rolls look tempting.. This rolls were on my to do list & I skipped it.

Padmajha PJ says

October 19, 2014 at 10:05 am

I wanted to make this for the BM but I did not know how they would turn out and if the kids will like it. But looking at your kids reaction and the pic I am going to try it!

Chef Mireille says

October 29, 2014 at 3:13 am

funny how even though first batch was too tough to eat they were finished off 🙂

Sapana Behl says

December 10, 2014 at 11:05 am

Cabbage rolls looks so tempting.Bookmarked

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