Golabki

Name: Golabki
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 75 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 large head green cabbage; 1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half pork); 1 cup cooked rice; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 large egg; 1 tsp dried marjoram; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes; 2 cups tomato juice or chicken broth; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp sugar (optional); Sour cream, for serving

Polish cabbage rolls — tender leaves wrapped around savory beef-and-rice filling, baked in tomato sauce.

⏱ 40 minPrep time

🔥 1 hr 15 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

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Gołąbki — literally ‘little pigeons’ — are Polish cabbage rolls: tender leaves wrapped around a savory filling of ground meat and rice, braised low and slow in a tomato sauce. They’re hearty, homely, and deeply loved.

Every Polish grandmother has her own ratio of beef to pork, her own pinch of marjoram, and strong opinions about tomato sauce versus mushroom gravy. Served with a spoonful of sour cream and boiled potatoes, gołąbki are pure Sunday-dinner comfort.

Eastern European recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Core the cabbage and boil it whole in salted water for 8-10 minutes, peeling off leaves as they soften; trim thick ribs. Reserve 12-16 large leaves.
Combine the meat, rice, onion, egg, marjoram, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
Place about 1/3 cup of filling on each leaf, fold in the sides, and roll up snugly.
Arrange the rolls seam-side down in a buttered Dutch oven, packing them tightly.
Pour the crushed tomatoes and tomato juice over the rolls. Cover and bake at 350°F for 1 1/4 hours, or simmer gently on the stovetop.
Season the sauce with sugar, salt, and pepper, and serve the gołąbki with a generous spoonful of sauce and sour cream.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Pack the rolls snugly so they hold their shape while braising. Freeze extras in their sauce — they reheat beautifully.

Recipe details

Prep40 min

Cook1 hr 15 min

Servings6

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Golabki

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Golabki

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