5 variations on the iconic Hungarian stuffed cabbage

Stuffed cabbage is one of the most exciting and typical dishes of Hungary.

We have already dealt with Hungarian stuffed cabbage, which has been chosen as the best dish in the world. We wrote about its history and brought a recipe as well. However, there are many ways to make stuffed cabbage that vary from person to person, as well as geographically. Hellovidek.hu collected 5 varieties from the latter. 

Stuffed cabbage also has another name precisely because of its appearance, namely, covered or stuffed cabbage. Many delicacies are covered with fresh or sauerkraut leaves. The way food is prepared varies from region to region, but because we get married, move, and love to cook and eat, everyone ends up making the type of stuffed cabbage that tastes best to them. Here are the most exciting versions and a recipe:

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County is characterised by its small filling size. The process is thus even more laborious, but they say it is worth it because it also changes the taste. Tomatoes and peppers are minced into the filling, and sometimes neither the onion nor the garlic is sautéed beforehand – so the taste of the filling is kind of raw.

In the Nyírség, the cabbage is made from sweet cabbage, and tomato juice is poured into the cabbage juice. I have heard from several places that they incorporate barley pearls or cornmeal instead of rice, making it more compact and nourishing, but it also changes the taste of the food.

In Krasná (Romania, Szilágy County), it is often made from sweet cabbage. They boil the water with salt, a little sugar, cook the leaves until ‘flexible’, then pour a little vinegar on it and let the cabbage cool in it, then take it apart for its leaves. The meat is cut by hand and the rice is fried on onions. There are no eggs in the filling, so they need to be rolled up tightly.

In Székelyföld (Erdély-Transylvania), the dumplings are larger, and the smoked meat does not go into the stuffing but around the dumplings. Fresh or previously frozen dill is placed in the filling instead of paprika. Colourless cabbage is common in Transylvania, as is sausage, as less ground red pepper is used than in Hungary. It is consumed with a lot of sour cream.

Ingredients for 10 people:

• 500 grams minced pork shoulder
• 500 grams baked sausage (soft filling)
• 100 grams of bacon
• 1 egg
• 250 grams of rice
• 1 tablespoon fat
• 1 teaspoon salt
• half a teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon red pepper
• half a teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 onion
• 25 large cabbage leaves (comes out of one large cabbage)
• 1 kilogram of sauerkraut
• a small piece of smoked side or nail
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Roux: 2 tablespoons pork fat, 1 tablespoon flour, 2 tablespoons ground red pepper