12 Delicious Polish Cabbage Dishes That Will Warm Your Heart

Mom's Traditional Polish Braised Cabbage

Green cabbage is slowly simmered with tomatoes, onions, garlic, Polish sausage, and caraway seeds. For an extra burst of tang, add a teaspoon of vinegar after cooking. As recipe contributor pretzeld suggests, we always topped this dish with a spoonful of sour cream and sometimes served it over a bed of mashed potatoes.

Polish Golabki (Gawumpki)

This cherished Polish recipe features tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a flavorful mixture of ground beef and rice. Recipe contributor mikegodphx shares, "My Grandma made these using various combinations of beef, veal, and pork." These are best made in large batches due to the time-consuming prep. Freezing any leftovers is a great option, as the cabbage becomes even more tender after freezing.

Bigos (Polish Hunter's Stew)

This traditional Polish dish combines sauerkraut, Polish sausage, caraway seeds, beef, pork, and a splash of red wine, slowly simmered to create a deeply flavorful stew. Bigos actually improves with time, making it a perfect dish to prepare in advance and reheat when needed.

Polish Sausage with Red Cabbage

Red cabbage is gently simmered in a tangy-sweet red wine and lemon sauce, then paired with kielbasa for a deliciously savory meal. "This cabbage was AMAZING!" says recipe reviewer Spiderwoman77. "It would also make a great side dish on its own, even without the meat. Definitely worth making!"

Easy and Quick Halushki

This classic Polish dish combines fried cabbage, crispy bacon, and noodles — a perfect comfort food. Home cook cwaclaw shares, "We always paired this with cottage cheese. They complement each other perfectly! It's a dish I grew up with and still one of my all-time favorites!"

Cabbage-Stuffed Polish Chicken Meatballs (Zrazas)

In this classic Polish dish, ground chicken meatballs are infused with garlic and parsley, then filled with rich, buttery cabbage and pan-fried to a golden perfection. Recipe creator Natalie Titanov shares, "These zrazas are incredibly juicy, even though they’re made with ground chicken. You’ll absolutely love them!"

Szybka Surowka z Czerwonej Kapusty (Polish Red Cabbage Slaw)

This Polish red cabbage slaw combines the sweet and tangy flavors of red cabbage, apples, and onions in a simple, mayo-free recipe. The cabbage is briefly cooked, though you can opt to use it raw if you prefer. Recipe creator Lilla notes, "This vibrant slaw is especially popular in autumn, when the colors are a feast for the eyes."

Kapusta

Kapusta is the Polish term for cabbage, which plays a starring role in this rich and buttery vegetable side dish. A savory blend of green cabbage, sauerkraut, onions, mushrooms, and thyme is generously dotted with butter and baked to perfection. This dish makes an excellent side, or a hearty main course for vegetarians.

Polish Stuffed Cabbage

In this traditional recipe, tender green cabbage leaves are stuffed with a savory mixture of beef and rice, then gently simmered in a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce. Recipe reviewer Rockawaybaby shares, "This dish is perfect for a cold winter's day. I call it true Eastern European comfort food!"

Homemade Sauerkraut

This straightforward Polish-style sauerkraut recipe combines shredded cabbage, onions, vinegar, and spices, making it easy to create this flavorful side dish from scratch. Recipe contributor onenickol shares, "This dish brings back memories of visiting my grandparents. They always had kielbasa and sauerkraut at the holiday feasts."

Pierogies and Cabbage

Cabbage, onions, and tomatoes are sautéed in bacon drippings and served over delicious potato and cheese-filled Polish pierogies for a savory, satisfying meal. Home cook GENE PETER shares, "I love cabbage, so I decided to try this recipe. Great flavor and so easy!"

Lazy Golumpki (Stuffed Cabbage) Soup

This slow cooker soup offers a simpler, quicker take on traditional Polish cabbage rolls. Skip the assembly and enjoy a hearty, flavorful dish that allows you to adjust the amounts of ground beef and cabbage to your liking. Use any type of rice you prefer, and for a stovetop version, simmer the soup for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

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