Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (2024)

Platter Talk Dish/Meal Type Entreés Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)

4.46 from 195 votes

Posted by Scott from Platter Talk

on Apr 25, 2018, Updated May 10, 2020

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Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)A rose by any other name is still a rose. That is very true with today’s post which is a Polish recipe for stuffed cabbage.

This is the number one Golumpki Recipe on Google, and you can read on to learn how we make this classic comfort food.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (2)

Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)

Some people call it pigs in a blanket, while others call it cabbage rolls and yet still others call it stuffed cabbage. No matter what anyone else calls it, I call this Polish recipe for stuffed cabbage (P0lish golabki) utterly delicious.

Our whole family agrees that this golumpki recipe is one of our favorite meals.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (3)

Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)

When I was a child growing up in Detroit, we had stuffed cabbage all the time. However we never called it stuffed cabbage, we called it Golumpki, the Polish name for stuffed cabbage.

Golumpki is traditionally made for special occasions like weddings, first communions and during holidays like Easter and Christmas.

Traditionally, a Golumpki recipe is ameat mixture such as ground beef, mixed with rice, onions, and spices that is then rolled in a cooked cabbage leaf. It is topped with a tomato sauce and then baked.

Every cook has their variation of family recipes, and therefore this golumpki recipe may be a bit different to what you are used to.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (4)

You may know this recipe as Polish Golabki

My Polish grandmother had her way of making stuffed cabbage, and my mother tweaked her mom’s recipe and made her version, and finally, I have probably tweaked my golabki a bit.

I can barely wait to see how my kids make this when they have kids!

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (5)

When it was my turn to learn how to make these, I lived 500 miles away from home. I was attending college in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, far away from where I grew up and consequently found myself having a powerful craving for some Golumpki.

Unfortunately, my mom was in Detroit, so she wasn’t going to be able to whip up a batch. And therefore I found myself wondering, what was a boy supposed to do?

How to Make Polish Stuffed Cabbage

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (6)

It seemed pretty obvious that had to take matters into my own hands and so I took ET’s advice and phoned home. My mother explained to me her recipe for Polish golumpki and finally gave me all of her tricks and secrets for this savory Polish recipe for stuffed cabbage.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (7)
Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (8)

After hanging up the phone, I jumped right into it and finally made my very first batch.

They weren’t as good as my mom’s, but I kept trying. We love family recipes, and our pierogi recipe is another favorite dish that I grew up with.

What are some of your favorite family recipes? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (10)

Well, that was more years ago than what I want to admit, and my version of golumpki is different from my mom’s and my grandmother’s, but my family loves them. Give them a try, and I think you will too.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (11)

Scott’s Cooking Tip for this Polish Stuffed Cabbage

This stuffed cabbage can be cooked a day ahead of serving. Just allow it to cool, wrap it up and chill it in the refrigerator until the next day.

Also, you can freeze it up to one month. Just let it thaw, then reheat the cabbage rolls in a hot oven (350°) for 30-40 minutes.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (12)

If you love Polish food, be sure to see our post, What to Serve with Pierogies – 15 Easy Recipes.

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (13)

Hungry but perhaps feeling just a tad lazy? Try our Lazy Golumpki (Stuffed Cabbage Casserole). It has all the flavor without all the effort therefore perfect for the lazy cook within each of us!

My mom always makes her golumpki in an old fashioned roaster.

We usually use a Dutch oven but either one works great.

See the links below for links to these.

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Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (20)

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Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)

4.46 from 195 votes

Authentic Polish Golabki recipe. These Polish stuffed cabbage rolls will feed a crowd. Also, you canmake this recipe ahead and freeze it up to one month before serving.

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total: 2 hours hrs

Yield: 6 servings

By: Scott from Platter Talk

Ingredients

  • Cabbage head
  • 1 lb Ground Chuck
  • 1 lb Ground Italian Sausage
  • 1/2 lb cooked and crumbled bacon
  • A med to large white onion chopped
  • An egg
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1 Family size can Tomato Soup, I prefer Campbells
  • 3 oz tomato paste
  • pinch of sugar
  • 1 tsp salt, adjust to taste
  • 1 tbs pepper, adjust to taste
  • 3 cups White Vinegar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Put cabbage head in a large stock pot, add water to cover and then add white vinegar to the water.

  • Place on stove on high heat and cover, bringing to a boil.

  • Gently boil cabbage until leaves of cabbage soften and become pliable.

  • Remove from stove and drain water from the pot. Set aside and allow cabbage head to cool.

  • Once cabbage is cooled, remove the leafs from the cabbage head. Take a paring knife and cut the lower portion of the "vein" from the leaf. This vein is very tough and needs to be removed. It will make it much easier to roll the meat mixture in the cabbage leaf. Continue to do this until you remove as many leaves from the cabbage as you can.

  • In a large mixing bowl combine ground chuck, sausage, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, egg, rice, bread crumbs and finally add the salt and pepper. Make certain to thoroughly combine the ingredients together. The "meat" mixture will be a similar consistency to meatloaf. It should be nice and moist. If it seems dry, add an additional egg.

  • Lay a cabbage leaf down on a flat surface thus allowing you to roll it easier. Take some of the meat mixture and form into a large meatball. You may make these as large or as small as you prefer therefore choose the size of your preference. Place the meatball in the center of the cabbage leaf. Wrap the cabbage leaf around the meat mixture (see video above).

  • Place the stuffed cabbage in a roaster with the wrapped edges down in the roaster. Repeat this process placing the Golumpki next to each other, until all of the meat mixture is used up.

  • Mix tomato soup, tomato paste and also a pinch of sugar.

  • Pour tomato soup mixture over the top of the stuffed cabbage and reserve a small amount to be used in the next step.

  • If you have cabbage leaves remaining, cover the entire top of the stuffed cabbage in the roaster.

  • Pour remaining tomato soup mixture on top of the cabbage that you lined the tops of the stuffed cabbage. This step will help steam the Golumpki that lies below and therefore will keep them nice and moist.

  • Put a lid on top of the roaster and bake for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Video

Notes

Try rolling smaller and serve as an appetizer!

Nutrition

Calories: 720kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 54g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 136mg, Sodium: 1490mg, Potassium: 659mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Vitamin C: 4.9mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 3.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Polish

Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!

Originally published on November 7, 2013. This golumpki recipe will live on for generations.

Categorized as:

Dinner Entreés Ground Meat Recipes Polish Recipes Top Recipes

Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (21)

Meet the Platter Talk Guys

Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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Authentic Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between gołąbki and golumpki? ›

Right now, cabbage is king. A favorite fall dish of the Hawthornes is stuffed cabbage rolls or galumpkis, also known as gołąbki in the Polish form. A traditional Polish dish, gołąbki is the plural of gołąbek, which is the diminutive of gołąb, meaning “pigeon,” a reference to the shape of the cabbage roll.

What is Polish stuffed cabbage made of? ›

"Polish cabbage rolls (filled with a mixture of rice, pork, and beef) stewed in tomatoes.

Why do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›

This recipe calls for freezing a head of cabbage overnight to soften the leaves to wrap around a beef and rice mixture.

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 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". They are also referred to as "pigs in a blanket", not to be confused with pigs in blankets in British and Irish cuisine.

What nationality eats the most cabbage? ›

China produces nearly half of the world's cabbage while Russia consumes the most per person. The average Russian eats about 44 pounds of cabbage a year. That compares to the 8.6 pounds eaten by Americans. Raw cabbage is rich in vitamin C.

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.

What is the difference between Polish and Ukrainian cabbage rolls? ›

Recipes vary depending on region; northern Poles prefer a savory sauce, while Galicia, Hungary and Ukraine favor sweet-and-sour, for example.

What is the best type of cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

These rolls turn out great with inexpensive, regular green cabbage. Another good option would be savoy cabbage. How do you get cabbage leaves off without breaking them? Boiling the cabbage makes the leaves soft and pliable.

What happens if you don't blanch cabbage before freezing? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

Can dogs eat cabbage? ›

All varieties of cabbage are not only tasty to your dog, they are also very healthy. Cabbage helps your dog's digestive system and is good for their skin. It can cause flatulence (gas) in dogs, so remember to feed cabbage in small amounts, and introduce it into their diet slowly.

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.

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 is the difference between green cabbage and Taiwanese cabbage? ›

It's all in the shape, the leaves, and the flavor. Taiwanese cabbage has lightly packed leaves and a flat, oblong shape. The flavor is sweet and the leaves are tender. Green cabbage, however, is generally spherical in shape and is less sweet and crisp since the leaves are thicker.

What is the difference between sarma and gołąbki? ›

The cabbage rolls are called gołąbki in Polish, holubky by Czechs and Slovaks, or sarma / сарма by Serbs, Croatians and Bulgarians. The sauce is often the main difference in regional variations.

What is the meaning of the word gołąbki? ›

“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.

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