Holubtsi (Cabbage Rolls) for 100

posted by Jan B 10-29-98 2:23 PM

Holubtsi for 100 St. John's Sisterhood

5 lbs long grain rice
2 gal water
2 TBS salt
2 TBS cooking oil
1/4 cup cooking oil

4 large onions
3 cup cooking oil
1 lb butter
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
10 lbs ground chuck
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt to taste
2 tsp. pepper

50 lbs cabbage, medium heads
3 stalks celery, cut up
1 large onion, sliced
1 (46 oz.) can tomato soup
3 soup cans water
3 stalks celery, cut up


Prepare rice:
Wash rice in cold water three times or until water comes off clear. Add 2 gallons cold water, salt, 2 TBS oil. Bring to fast boil, cook 1 minute. Cover, turn off heat, let stand until water is partially absorbed but not more than 10 minutes. The rice will only be partially cooked. Drain and rinse with cold water. Add 1/4 cup oil , mix. Cool.

Prepare filling:
Preheat oven to 325° F.

Fry 4 chopped onions in 3 cups oil until soft. Add butter, onions, finely chopped celery and parsley, and garlic to cooled rice. Add meat, mix well. Season with salt and pepper

Prepare cabbage:
Remove entire core from cabbage. In a large deep pan, bring water to a boil, add cabbage heads and cook slowly until leaves are soft. Take off leaves, place in colander to drain. Cut off hard center from each leaf. Cut large leaves into 2 sections.

On the bottom of an 18 x 24 x 2" roaster, make a bed using large cabbage leaves, 3 cups cut up celery stalks and sliced onion. Make holubtsi by placing a generous spoonful of the filling on each cabbage leaf; roll.

Arrange rolls in layers, sprinkle each layer with salt (No more than 3 layers for best results.)

Combine soup with 3 cans of water, pour over holubtsi. Protect top from scorching by covering with a few large leaves and 3 cup up celery stalks,cover roaster tightly.

Bake at 325 degrees for at least 4 hours, or until both cabbage and filling are cooked.


The following are ingredients for a "normal" size pan.

1 lb. rice
2 cup boiling water
1 tsp salt
2 med onions, chopped
8 Tbs cooking oil
2 lbs ground chuck
1/2 clove garlic, chopped
2 stalks celery chopped fine
2 TBS parsley, chopped fine
salt & pepper
1 (10 1/2 oz) can tomato soup
3 soup cans water


Bake 350 degrees for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until cabbage is tender.

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