Slovak Stuffed Cabbage (Holubky or Halupki)
Slovak stuffed cabbage, also known as holubky or halupki, is a savory dish featuring ground beef and pork, sauerkraut, paprika, and tomato sauce.
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Instructions
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Start boiling salted water in a large pot.
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Prepare cabbage by removing large outer leaves (reserve) and coring the head. Boil the cabbage head for 3 minutes until leaves soften enough to peel off; collect 18 leaves.
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Cool leaves, then trim the thick center stem from each, without cutting through.
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Chop the remaining cabbage (excluding reserved outer leaves) and spread it in a greased casserole dish.
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Rinse and cook rice in 1/2 cup water until absorbed, then cool. Simultaneously, sauté chopped onion in butter until tender and cool.
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In a large bowl, combine cooled rice, onions, ground beef, ground pork, salt, pepper, egg, garlic, paprika, reserved sauerkraut juices, and 1/3 cup tomato sauce; mix thoroughly.
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Fill each cabbage leaf with about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture. Fold in the sides, then roll the leaf into a compact tube.
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Arrange the cabbage rolls over the chopped cabbage in the dish. Layer with additional tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, remaining sauerkraut, and a few reserved whole cabbage leaves.
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Add enough water to cover completely. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 3-4 hours.
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Serve with pan juices, optional sour cream, mashed potatoes, and crusty bread.