Galumpkis or Halupkis...or simply Stuffed Cabbage!

No matter what you call these cabbage rolls, they are a delicious Eastern European dish that my family loves! I made them the other night using a slow cooker or crock pot and they were the best I ever made. I swear the time cooking helps to meld the flavors together and that is why they were so yummy. 

Total cooking time 7 hrs....total cooking time in slow cooker 6 1/2 hours.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground meat ( I use Turkey)

1 onion chopped

1 cup cooked rice (I cook mine in chicken bullion or stock)

1/2 c bread crumbs

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 head of green cabbage

1 28 oz can of whole tomatoes

2 c. chicken broth (or beef if using ground round or sirloin)

salt and pepper to taste

In large pot bring water to a boil and add the cabbage whole to the water. Let boil for about 3-5 minutes, just long enough for the leaves to become soft and mailable. Remove cabbage from pot using tongs or you can drain off the hot water reserving a cup and cool cabbage by adding cold water to the pot.

In mixing bowl, mix the meat with the cooled rice and bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Place one cabbage leave on surface of the working area. Make a small meatball and place in the center of the cabbage leaf and then fold the sides up and then beginning with the end opposite the spine of the leaf, begin to roll up the meatball with cabbage and secure with a toothpick. Repeat until all the meat is used. 

Then take remaining cabbage and chop. In large pan saute the onion and garlic in 1/4 cup of the broth until soft. Then add remainder of the broth along with the tomatoes and let cook on the stove top for about 30 minutes.

In a slow cooker, place the wrapped cabbage leaves on the bottom and then pour the tomato mixture over top to cover. If it doesn't cover add some of the reserved cabbage water and season with salt and pepper. Cook on high for 3 hours then cut back to low for the remaining 3 1/2 hours.

I had made 13 Galumpkis and all but two were gone at the end of dinner Tuesday night. I actually had to stop the kids from eating them so Chris had some to take for lunch on Wednesday. This is a great comfort food and very inexpensive to make. It just takes a little practice in rolling up the meat in the cabbage, but otherwise a very simple meal. 

Serve with mashed potatoes and loads of love!!!

XO