Cabbage is a staple in different cuisines where it can be used in different dishes ranging from salads like coleslaw, condiments like kimchi and cabbage rolls with savory fillings.
In cabbage rolls, the cabbage leaves are filled with a wide variety of ingredients including minced meat and different grains.
The stuffed cabbage rolls may also be stewed in a tomato sauce.
Stuffed cabbage rolls are a dish that can be found widely in different regional European cuisines especially in central and Eastern Europe.
There are different variations of these dishes where the components of the fillings and the sauce may differ.
They are known as different names depending on the region where they are found.
Polish and Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls are popular versions of this dish, and each variation has its peculiarities.
In this post, we highlight the differences between these regional stuffed cabbage rolls.
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Difference between Hungarian and Polish stuffed cabbage rolls
Stuffed cabbage roll is very popular in both Hungarian and polish cuisines. They are shaped similarly with cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings
However, the fillings and tomato sauce of these cabbage rolls differ slightly.
The filling
The fillings of both forms of cabbage rolls are quite similar.
Typically, the fillings consist of rice and minced meat, however, the polish cabbage rolls may feature other grains including buckwheat and barley, and they may also contain mushrooms.
Also, sweet paprika and marjoram are more often used as seasoning in Hungarian cabbage rolls.
The Sauce
Both cabbage rolls are dressed in a tomato sauce.
However, what distinguished traditional Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls from polish cabbage rolls is that in Hungarian cabbage rolls, the stuffed cabbage leaves are stewed in a thick tomato sauce flavored with sauerkraut, and they are served with sour cream.
Polish stuffed cabbage rolls
Polish stuffed cabbage rolls are also known as “gołąbki”
This dish is a staple in polish cuisine, and also a comfort food.
“Gołąbki” means “little pigeons” as the dish initially consisted of pigeon meat that was wrapped in cabbage leaves and was eaten by aristocrats
In the modern version, the fillings consist of meat, onions, rice.
The meat could be beef or pork and it is minced
The filling consists of different grains such as rice buckwheat and barley.
The cabbage leaves are boiled, then rolled around the fillings after which the cabbage rolls are braised in a tomato sauce.
The stuffed cabbages can be served warm or at room temperature, with a side of mashed potatoes.
They can also be served as an appetizer.
Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls
This dish is known as “Toltott Kaposzta” in Hungarian
“Toltott Kaposzta” means “filled cabbage” in English.
This dish is very popular in Hungarian cuisine, and it is cooked for a lengthy duration.
The cabbages leaves are stuffed with ground pork, paprika, onions, rice and eggs.
The cabbage rolls are also braised in a tomato sauce which has been flavored with sauerkraut.
These cabbage rolls are savory and spicy in flavor, and the addition of sauerkraut gives them a tangy flavor.
In Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls, the rolls are also dressed in sour cream.
