Ethel Sellis' Stuffed Cabbage Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Freeze

by: Ella Quittner

October28,2018

3.7

10 Ratings

  • Prep time 45 minutes
  • Cook time 3 hours
  • Serves 6 or more

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

When I was an infant, someone gave my parents an odd gift: a food mill, so you could turn whatever you were eating into baby food. They used to feed me this stuffed cabbage—my great grandmother's recipe—as if it were puréed pumpkin. As I aged, it’s no wonder that it became a siren song to me. The sumptuous, rich scent it’d give off as it bubbled away on the stove was enough to pry me from whatever I was doing and lure me into the kitchen, shoeless and ravenous as one of Pavlov’s dogs. “Have you ever had anything so good in your entire life?” my dad would ask, cutting a stuffed cabbage roll in two and handing us each an enormous spoonful, complete with hot tomato sauce and shredded chuck, braised until quite literally falling apart. A drop of sauce would fall onto his shirt. “Never,” I’d say, handing him a towel. —Ella Quittner

Test Kitchen Notes

Featured in: How My Nana's Stuffed Cabbage Taught Me to Treat Myself Better. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 large head of green cabbage, with the tough, inedible bottom part removed by cutting a triangular wedge about an inch deep
  • 3/4 poundground beef
  • 2 tablespoonsuncooked rice
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced, plus 1 large yellow onion sliced into rings about 1/4-inch thick
  • 1/2 tablespoonketchup
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 teaspoonskosher salt, divided, plus more as needed
  • 1 teaspoonfreshly cracked black pepper, divided, plus more as needed
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 (10.75-ounce) can Campbell’s tomato soup
  • 1/3 cupbrown sugar
  • 1 teaspoonlemon juice, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoonolive oil
  • 1 chuck steak (about 12 ounces)
  • 3 gingersnap cookies, crumbled, plus more as needed
  • 1 poundegg noodles, cooked and tossed with butter and salt, for serving
  • 1/2 cupsour cream, for serving
Directions
  1. Boil the head of cabbage for 30 minutes. It should be soft enough so you can jab a fork an inch or so into the heart.
  2. Meanwhile, make the filling: Using your hands, gently mix together the beef, uncooked rice, small diced onion, ketchup, egg, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
  3. Make the sauce in a separate bowl: Mix the can of tomatoes, tomato soup, brown sugar, lemon juice, and the remaining salt and pepper. Use a chef’s knife to break the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  4. Drain the cabbage and let it sit about 30 minutes, until it’s cool enough to handle. Separate the cabbage leaves into a pile so you can see how many you’re working with—the better to allocate the filling. With each leaf, put the “right amount” of filling (closer to a couple tablespoons for larger leaves, and closer to a heaping teaspoon for for smaller leaves) into the the concave, cup-like side, and roll it up, tucking in the sides as you go so that you’ve created a cylindrical pouch.
  5. Season the steak all over with salt. In the bottom of a large pot, heat oil at medium high until almost smoking. Brown the steak on both sides. Then, cover the steak with a few tablespoons of the sauce and flip it over so there’s sauce underneath, too. Layer on a row of cabbage rolls (with the open side face down so they stay sealed), then add about 1/4 cup of the sliced onions on top of the rolls, then more sauce. Continue like this until all of the cabbage rolls and sliced onions and sauce have been layered in.
  6. Cook covered over a low flame for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Uncover, then add the crumbled gingersnaps. Stir to mix so they dissolve into the sauce. If you'd like the sauce to be thicker, add additional crumbled gingersnaps. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve over buttered egg noodles. As you distribute the sauce and cabbage rolls into bowls, shred the steak and include some in each. Garnish each bowl with a dollop of sour cream.

Tags:

  • Stew
  • American
  • Onion
  • Beef
  • Rice
  • Cabbage
  • Egg
  • Tomato
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Freeze
  • Simmer
  • Family Reunion

Popular on Food52

14 Reviews

Margie March 25, 2020

This recipe took me back to my childhood. I can’t wait to make the cabbage rolls and reminisce a little. I may have miss it but what would be your instructions if you wanted to freeze this dish ahead of time?

Julie February 22, 2020

Oh I gotta try this! Thanks for sharing an heirloom recipe <3

susielou May 8, 2019

This recipe is a classic! I love sweet and spicy anything by adding ginger snaps; I've added them to brisket or pot roast. When I made stuffed cabbage, I served it on rice; your noodles take it to another level.

A vegetarian version for stuffing is made with a combination of mushrooms, barley, onions and dill, and served with a sour cream sauce.

Hi Susie,

I'm so thrilled you enjoyed this! Makes me happy to hear.

Ella

FrugalCat November 3, 2018

Anyone whose old recipes included raisins in the sauce?

Ella Q. November 20, 2018

Sounds delicious. Golden or other?

KarenO January 27, 2019

Yes, indeed. That's the way my grandmother made it. Can't recall if they were golden or regular raisins, though. Making my mouth water.

Donald February 22, 2020

Yes, dark raisins. But I use golden raisins now because I like the flavor better and I think they're less distracting in the finished sauce.

penmoon November 2, 2018

Any recommendations for making this vegetarian?

Ella Q. November 25, 2018

Hi Penmoon,

You could try just rice and onion inside the cabbage. Or use your favorite recipe for veggie meatballs and include that instead of the beef mixture.

Ella

Deedledum February 6, 2019

Grains like quinoa or bulgur work here too.

Kim K. February 18, 2019

Buckwheat, mushrooms, rice or barley. I have seen it with hard cooked eggs too, but that's not exactly vegetarian.

Austin B. October 31, 2018

Is there a workaround for the canned tomato soup?

Ella Q. October 31, 2018

Hi Austin! My dad swears by the soup, but I suspect a similar volume of pureed tomato would do the trick in a pinch. Just balance to taste accordingly with the other ingredients.

Ella

Ethel Sellis' Stuffed Cabbage Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

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 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.

Who invented stuffed cabbage? ›

Historically cabbage rolls has roots in ancient middle east and spread to Eastern Europe as trade roots developed and people migrated. Some Jewish historians has found indications that stuffed cabbage rolls were part of Jewish food tradition as early as 1500 years ago.

What is Hungarian stuffed cabbage Wiki? ›

The traditional Hungarian cabbage roll (töltött káposzta) can be made from sweet or sauerkraut cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of minced pork meat, eggs, and rice seasoned with paprika, caraway, salt, and pepper. The Hungarian version often contains minced pepper (paprika) and is served with sour cream on top.

How long does it take for cabbage to soften? ›

How to boil cabbage. Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

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.

What ethnicity is stuffed cabbage? ›

Stuffed cabbage is a dish that is found in many cuisines around the world, including Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and Asian cuisines. However, it is often associated with countries such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Hungary, where it is a traditional dish.

What is the meaning of the word 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 Golumpki mean in English? ›

In the United States, the terms are commonly Anglicized by second- or third-generation Americans to "stuffed cabbage", "stuffed cabbage leaves", or "cabbage casserole".

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 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 are Chinese cabbages? ›

Chinese cabbage is also known as napa, napa cabbage, pe-tsai, wongbok, or chihli. This is a vegetable of major importance in China (over 300 000 ha grown), Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Grown as an annual crop, most cultivars are biennial and produce tight, compact, cylindrical heads.

What is the purple stuff in cabbage? ›

Purple cabbage slaw makes the best side dish for all kinds of meals! Even better, it's only four ingredients and takes just minutes to make. Purple cabbage gets it's color from anthocyanin, a plant compound, which is also an antioxidant powerhouse. So not only is this purple slaw delicious, it's also good for you!

Why is my cabbage still tough after cooking? ›

You're not cooking the right kind of cabbage

If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. The Savoy cabbage can be used as a substitute for green cabbage, just keep in mind that its leaves are a bit more tender than that of other cabbages.

Why is my cabbage head not firm? ›

Inconsistent Watering:

Winter staples like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower need a steady water supply to thrive and form a plump, compact head. Inconsistent watering can disrupt the development process and lead to loose or underwhelming heads. Cabbage, in particular, is sensitive to water fluctuations.

What happens if you overcook cabbage? ›

Unappetizing texture and flavor: Overcooking can cause cabbage to become mushy, slimy, and unappetizing. It can also cause the cabbage to lose its natural sweetness and become bitter. Increased gas production: Overcooking cabbage can make it more difficult to digest, leading to increased gas production and discomfort.

How do you know if cabbage is overcooked? ›

Overcooked cabbage can release sulfur compounds, which can result in a strong, unpleasant odor. This can be especially noticeable when boiling or simmering cabbage for an extended period. But, it's not just the bad smell you have to contend with. Overcooking cabbage causes it to become mushy and limp.

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