Cabbage roll

Cabbage rolls are a delightful dish crafted by wrapping cooked cabbage leaves around a variety of delectable fillings. This dish is savored in many parts of the world, including Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, Northern China, and parts of North Africa.

In Europe, the fillings often include meats such as beef, lamb, or pork, mixed with garlic, onion, and spices. Grains like rice or barley, mushrooms, and vegetables are frequently added. In Southeastern Europe, fermented cabbage leaves might be used for an extra tangy flavor. Meanwhile, in Asia, you might encounter fillings like seafood, tofu, and shiitake mushrooms.

Once stuffed, cabbage rolls are typically baked, simmered, or steamed in a covered pot. They are served warm, often accompanied by a variety of sauces. For instance, in Sweden, they might be paired with lingonberry jam, while in Eastern Europe, a tomato-based sauce is common. In Lebanon, a refreshing lemon and olive oil vinaigrette is customary.

The exact origins of cabbage rolls are somewhat obscure, with many regions claiming to have invented them. Each area has its distinctive variation of the dish. For example, Jewish communities enjoy holishkes during Simchat Torah, while Romanians and Moldovans relish sarmale.

Across Europe, you'll find several variations: Azerbaijan has Kələm dolması, Romania and Moldova have sarmale, Poland offers gołąbki, Ukraine serves holubtsi, Hungary makes töltött káposzta, and Sweden presents kåldolmar. In Russia, cabbage rolls are simmered in a creamy tomato sauce, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, and Serbia, they are cooked in a paprika-based sauce. In Egypt, cabbage rolls, known as محشي كرمب, are filled with rice, onion, tomato, herbs, and spices.

In the United States, cabbage rolls have found a home in regions with a strong Polish influence, such as Chicago and Detroit, where they are known as gołąbki. They are also popular in southern Louisiana, where Cajuns and Louisiana Creoles prepare them with ground pork, rice, vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce.