Description
Polish golumpki soup blends traditional cabbage rolls with hearty broth, creating a comforting dish that honors Eastern European culinary traditions. Generous meat, rice, and tomato notes mingle in each spoonful, offering home cooks a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or ground pork)
- 4 cups (946 ml) green cabbage (chopped)
- 1 (14.5 oz/411 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can tomato sauce
- 4 cups (946 ml) beef broth
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup (118 ml) uncooked white rice (long grain)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for a tangy kick)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Caramelize Protein: Sear ground beef and onions in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until meat develops deep golden edges and onions become translucent.
- Aromatic Layer: Drain excess fat, then quickly sauté minced garlic to release its fragrant notes, creating a foundational flavor profile.
- Liquid Integration: Combine chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth into the meat mixture, constructing a rich and hearty soup base.
- Flavor Acceleration: Infuse the developing soup with Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, dried thyme, brown sugar, and vinegar, ensuring thorough flavor distribution through vigorous stirring.
- Thermal Management: Escalate to a robust boil, then immediately transition to a gentle simmer, covering the pot to allow ingredients to harmonize and cabbage to tenderize.
- Rice Immersion: After 20 minutes of simmering, introduce uncooked rice, completely submerging it within the liquid and stirring to prevent clustering.
- Final Refinement: Continue cooking for 15-18 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness and liquid develops a slightly thickened consistency, stirring intermittently to prevent bottom scorching.
- Presentation: Remove from heat and ladle into serving vessels, optionally embellishing with fresh parsley or a luxurious dollop of sour cream to enhance textural complexity.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly caramelized to develop deep, rich flavor. Use high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan for perfect browning.
- Rice Cooking Precision: Monitor rice carefully during final cooking stage. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and achieve ideal tender texture without becoming mushy.
- Flavor Balancing Act: Adjust seasoning gradually. Taste and fine-tune salt, pepper, and spices to create a harmonious flavor profile that complements the beef and cabbage.
- Dietary Modification Option: For a low-carb version, replace rice with cauliflower rice or omit entirely. Vegetarians can substitute ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives or extra vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg