Halupki (Stuffed Cabbage)

Stuffed cabbage is a traditional Slovak food. It is always a Fall/Winter staple in my family. You can use just about anything for a filling. I either opt for beef and rice or vegetables and rice depending on my intended audience. You can prepare it in the oven or in a crockpot, and it is delicious no matter how it is prepared.


Halupki (Stuffed Cabbage)

 

 

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: varies
Total Time: varies

 

Serves 4-8

Ingredients:

Meat Filling:

• 1 head of cabbage, 4-10 large outer leaves washed, and rib removed
• 1 cup rice, cooked (any kind will do)
• 1 lb beef
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Vegetable Filling:

• 1 head of cabbage, 4-10 large outer leaves washed, and rib removed
• 1 cup rice, cooked (any kind will do)
• 3 cups of any combination of chopped vegetables
• zucchini
• mushrooms
• bell peppers
• carrots
• etc.
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Tomato Sauce:

• 2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes
• 1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 1 16 oz. jar roasted red peppers
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil a stockpot of salted water. Submerge the prepared cabbage leaves in the water and boil until they are bright green and fold easily, 5-8 minutes.
2. Remove the cabbage leaves with tongs and set them aside to cool.
3. Combine the rice, seasonings, and meat or vegetable filling in a large bowl. Scoop 1/2 to 2/3 cup filling into the inside of a cabbage leaf. Tuck the bottom of the leaf up and over the filling. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, then continue to roll the bottom of the leaf up to the top. Set the rolled cabbage leaf, seam side down, in either a glass Pyrex dish (if you are baking them) or in a crockpot. Repeat with the remaining leaves. If you have any leftover filling, you can add it to the tomato sauce.  
4. In a food processor or blender, combine the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, peppers, garlic cloves, and salt and pepper and process until smooth.
5. Pour the sauce over the rolled cabbage leaves. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 F for 2 hours or cook in the crockpot on low for 8 hours or high for 6.