Czech Cabbage Rolls Recipes

CZECH CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. Core head of cabbage and put in a stock pot with water (core side down) and steam. While steaming prepare meat mixture. Watch and once it is steamed removed and drain water off and let sit with lid on to keep moist.
• 2. This can be made ahead of time so the flavors will do their thing. I made it the day before and let it set all night in the refrigerator. Combine both meats, onion, rice, garlic & salt and pepper and mix well. Spape your meat mixture into rolls about as long as your index finger and 3/4" in diameter. Wrap your rolled meat mixture in one leaf of your steamed cabbage.
• 3. Start by putting down a layer of saurkraut on the bottom of your stew kettle/dutch oven, then place a layer of cabbage rolls and continue to do this (2-3 layers is what I had) and you should end up at the top with a layer for saurkraut.
• 4. Pour your broth (or water) over the top and season more if desired with salt & pepper. Once you are done place on your back burner, cover with lid, and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling lower to simmer, continue with lid still on, and continue for 2-1/2 hours.
• 5. It is okay to let it sit in the juice as it just give it more flavor. I have thought about adding a can of diced tomatoes but that is not part of this recipe. But it sounds like a great addition to me!

CZECH CABBAGE DISH

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Blanche cabbage briefly in boiling water, remove and drain immediately.
• In a large skillet, brown bacon over medium heat until opaque; remove and drain on paper toweling.
• Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the skillet; add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and heat over medium heat. Add onion, celery and bell pepper and saute until crisp-tender.
• In a large bowl combine the prepared cabbage, bacon, sauteed vegetable mix (with oil), vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well and serve warm, or chill and serve later.

SLOVAK STUFFED CABBAGE (HOLUBKY OR HALUPKI)

Steps:

• Remove large outer leaves from cabbage and set aside. Remove core from cabbage. Place head in a large pot filled with boiling salted water . Cover and cook three minutes or until softened enough to pull off individual leaves. You will need 18 leaves.
• When leaves are cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to cut away the thick center stem from each leaf, without cutting all the way through.
• Chop the remaining cabbage, still reserving large outer leaves, and place it in the bottom of a large greased casserole dish or Dutch oven.
• Rinse rice and cook it in 1/2 cup water until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cool. Meanwhile, sauté chopped onion in butter in a medium skillet until tender and let cool.
• In a large bowl, mix cooked and cooled rice, cooled onions, beef, pork, salt and pepper to taste, egg, garlic, paprika, reserved sauerkraut juices, and 1/3 cup of the tomato sauce; blend ingredients thoroughly. Don't overmix or the meat will become tough.
• Place about 1/2 cup of meat on each cabbage leaf. Roll away from you to encase the meat. Flip the right side of the leaf to the middle, then flip the left side. You will have something that looks like an envelope. Roll the leaf into a small tube.
• Add some tomato sauce in between the layers in the casserole dish or Dutch oven. Place the cabbage rolls on top of the chopped cabbage with sauerkraut and top with all the crushed tomatoes, remaining sauerkraut, tomato sauce, and a few of the reserved whole cabbage leaves.
• Add enough water to cover completely. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to very low, cover and simmer three to four hours. Watch carefully so stuffed cabbages don't burn.
• Serve with pan juices and a drizzle of sour cream if desired, mashed potatoes , and crusty bread.
• Cabbage rolls freeze well before or after cooking and can be made in a slow cooker (see your manufacturer's instructions).

CZECH RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• In a pot, saute the onion in the vegetable oil until soft. Add the cabbage and salt, and cover. Steam over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cover, and add the apples.
• In a small bowl, mix the vinegar and sugar, and pour over the cabbage. Sprinkle with the caraway seeds, mix and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until the cabbage is soft. Adjust the seasonings to taste.

HOLUBKY (SLOVAK STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)

Steps:

• Cover cabbage leaves with boiling water, let stand until leaves are limp (2-3 minutes); then drain.
• Fry onions in butter until translucent, then mix with garlic, rice, meat, egg, milk, and seasonings; mix well.
• In a large dutch oven, prepare zapraška (similar to roux) by melting shortening over medium heat.
• Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until it reaches desired brownness (usually light brown or beige).
• Add a tablespoon of water and stir until smooth.
• Be very careful when making zapraška as it is very hot and can cause severe burns if it comes in contact with the skin, also avoid the steam that rises when you add the water.
• Add the tomato sauce, water, and sugar.
• Mix well and bring to a boil; allow to boil for several minutes.
• Place 2-3 tablespoons (depending on size of leaf) of meat mixture in center of each cabbage leaf; tuck in sides and roll to cover meat.
• Place, seam side down in pot with sauce.
• Cook, covered, over low heat for 2-3 hours.

OLD-FASHIONED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Cook cabbage in boiling water just until outer leaves pull away easily from head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls. In a small bowl, combine the beef, pork, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, onion, rice, parsley, salt, dill and cayenne; mix well., Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each leaf, making a V-shaped cut. Place about 1/4 cup meat mixture on a cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides. Beginning from the cut end, roll up. Repeat., Slice the remaining cabbage; place in a Dutch oven. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam side down over sliced cabbage. Combine the tomatoes, sugar and remaining tomato sauce; pour over the rolls. Cover and bake at 350° until cabbage rolls are tender, 1-1/2 hours.