Holishkes Stuffed Cabbage Recipes

HOLISHKES (STUFFED CABBAGE)

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine all the stuffing ingredients. Stir them with a fork, then mix thoroughly with your hands. Cover and refrigerate.
• 2. In another bowl, thoroughly mix all sauce ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.
• 3. Fill a very large stockpot three-quarters full with water and bring to a rapid boil. While bringing the water to a boil, use a thin, sharp knife to make deep cuts around the core of the large cabbage (cut into the cabbage in a circle about 1/4 inch out from the core). Lift out the core, making a hole about 2 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches deep. This is a bit difficult - persevere.
• 4. Set out a baking tray neat the stove. Stick a long cooking fork into the core hole of the large cabbage, and plunge it (carefully, so you don't splash yourself) into the pot of rapidly boiling water. The outer leaves will begin to fall off. Leave them in the boiling water for a few minutes until they're limp and flexible enough for stuffing; then take them out one at a time, and place them on the baking tray. Try not to tear the leaves. When all the leaves are on the tray, transfer it into the sink and pour the boiling water from the pot over them. Wash the leaves carefully in cold water. With a small, sharp knife, trim off the tough outer spines and discard them.
• 5. Find your largest leaves, and set them out on a plate. Set out all other leaves on another plate. One at a time, line each large leaf with another large leaf or two smaller leaves. (The idea is to strengthen your cabbage wrapping so that the stuffing stays securely inside during cooking. Be sure to align the spines of inner and outer leaves.) Stuff with 3/4 cup of the meat-rice mixture, roll very tightly along the spine, and close both sides by tucking them in with your fingers. The spine should be vertical in the center of tour roll.
• 6. Stir the 4 cups of chopped cabbage into the sauce. Pour 3/4 inch of the sauce into a large, wide-bottomed stockpot. Arrange the cabbage rolls carefully on top of the sauce, and pour the remainder of the sauce over them to cover. Cover pot and simmer for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Serve with boiled potatoes and a vegetable.

EUROPEAN CABBAGE ROLLS (HOLISHKES)

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients. Place 1 heaping tablespoons in center of each leaf, folding in end and sides and rolling up to form a snug roll. Continue till all filling and leaves are used. Shred smaller remaining leaves.
• For the sweet and sour sauce combine ingredients in small bowl. If you can't find mushroom tomato sauce, then use tomato sauce.
• In large pot or roasting pan, layer shredded cabbage (any leaves not suitable for filling), place stuffed cabbage rolls and sauce on top of shredded cabbage. Continue till all are in pot. Simmer for 2 hours on stove top tightly covered, or cook in preheated 275 oven for 2 hours. Yield: 30 Cabbage Rolls.
• VARIATIONS:.
• THE MEATLESS WAY: Substitute 3 cups cooked mixed beans, peas and lentils as you like. ( A good combination is cooked garbanzos (chickpeas) and brown lentils). Use 1 cup raw rice. Crush them as you combine with other ingredients. Continue as above. Season to taste.
• HUNGARIAN LAYERED CABBAGE: Use SAVOY cabbage for this dish as it softens when cooked. In a baking pan layer cabbage leaves, meat filling, and sauce, ending with sauce on top. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour. Keep warm till serving, cut in squares to serve.
• THE MEATLESS WAY: Try this same method as for Hungarian Layered Cabbage using grated raw potatoes instead of meat filling. Season with finely minced browned onions, salt and pepper. Top casserole with sauce. Bake 1 hour.
• MIDDLE EAST CABBAGE ROLLS: Use ground lamb, COOKED rice, and season with allspice and cinnamon. Layer rolls with lemon juice flavored chicken broth instead of Sweet and Sour Sauce. Cook as in main recipe.
• To Life!

JEWISH SWEET-AND-SOUR STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CABBAGE ROLLS: Heat the oil in a skillet and saute' the onions until golden. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the eggs, water, rice, salt and pepper. Add the sauteed onions to the beef mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• Core the cabbage and separate into leaves. Place the leaves in a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 8 minutes. Drain and cool the leaves until they can be easily handled.
• Cut the large leaves in half, removing the hard core. Place about 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture on a leaf. Fold the edges toward the center and roll up. Repeat until all the leaves are used. Place the the rolls in a large pot with the edges down, piling one on top of another, and separating them with a few of the small cabbage leaves.
• TO MAKE THE SAUCE: In a saucepan, combine the tomatoes, tomato puree, water, onions, brown sugar, honey, lemon juice, ginger snaps, raisins, and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes, then taste and adjust the sweet and sour to your liking. Pour the sauce over the cabbage rolls, cover, and cook GENTLY on top the stove for 1 1/2 hours.