“Holubsti” Cabbage Rolls (serves 2 but doubles easily)
There is a traditional Ukrainian dish for Christmas Eve, Holubtsi, which translated into English means “little birds”. It’s a rice stuffed cabbage leaf dish that Will recalls from orthodox “little Christmas” and which is truly delicious. This is our approximation of that dish, using rice, cabbage, raisins and dill. It’s meltingly tender, savory with the taste of raisins and pine nuts, and warming to the soul. Enjoy! ~ Glyn and Will
Dill and Rice Stuffed Cabbage
1 ½ c cooked jasmine rice
¼ c raisins
¼ c toasted pine nuts
¼ c diced onion
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. oil
4 cabbage leaves, stems trimmed and blanched, babies removed and delivered to respective parents
1 ½ c tomato sauce
½ tsp. dried dill
Salt and Pepper
Saute the onion, garlic and pine nuts until the pine nuts start to brown. Remove from the heat.
Combine the rice the raisins, half the dill and ½ c of the tomato sauce with the onion/garlic/pinenuts. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
Place ¼ of the rice mixture on each cabbage leaf. Fold to make a packet.
Place in a greased baking dish. Cover with the remaining dill and tomato sauce.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until bubbling.
