Welcome to a healthier take on a beloved Eastern European classic! Golubtsy, or stuffed cabbage rolls, are the ultimate comfort food, traditionally filled with meat and rice. Our version swaps in lean chicken breast and nutritious spelt for a lighter, yet equally satisfying meal. This recipe is perfect for those who love hearty, flavorful dishes but are mindful of their diet. Steamed to perfection, these tender cabbage leaves envelop a savory, aromatic filling, creating a dish that is both wholesome and incredibly delicious. Let's cook a meal that warms the soul without weighing you down!
Golubtsy with spelt (healthy eating)
Ingredients for Golubtsy with Spelt
- 1 chicken breast
- 60 g polba (spelt)
- 1 small head of early cabbage
- 1 teaspoon curry powder for chicken
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- olive oil
- salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make Golubtsy with Spelt
Dice two large fillets, then finely chop with a kitchen cleaver.
Cook the grain over low heat for about 30 minutes.
Cool the cooked spelt to room temperature and mix with the minced chicken.
Remove the skin from the chicken breast and cut the meat off the bones. Dice two large fillets, then finely chop with a kitchen cleaver until the meat turns into mince. This method of preparing mince is preferable, but if you don’t want to bother, a meat grinder or food processor is always at your service.
Rinse the polba (an ancient variety of wheat, also known as spelt) with cold water, place it in a saucepan, and pour in a glass of boiling water. Bring to a boil, then cover the saucepan. Cook the grain over low heat for about 30 minutes. Drain the cooked spelt in a sieve to remove excess water.
Cool the cooked spelt to room temperature and mix it with the minced chicken. Salt to taste, and add curry powder for chicken and sweet paprika powder.
Mix the filling well; if it seems too dry, you can add a little cold water.
Mix the filling thoroughly. If it seems too dry, you can add a little cold water. Place the prepared filling in the refrigerator while you work on the cabbage.
Cool the cabbage leaves on a board and tenderize the thick part with a meat mallet.
Place an oval-shaped patty in the center of a cabbage leaf.
Grease the steamer rack with oil, and also brush the golubtsy with oil.
Separate large, whole leaves from a head of early cabbage. Pour two liters of water into a wide pot and salt to taste. Add the cabbage leaves in batches to the boiling water, blanch for 4 minutes, and then remove them with tongs onto a cutting board. Blanch 8-10 leaves this way.
Cool the cabbage leaves on the board and flatten the thick part with a meat mallet. This will make the leaves flat and easy to wrap the filling in.
Divide the chicken and spelt filling into equal portions. With wet hands, form oval patties. Place an oval patty in the center of each cabbage leaf.
Wrap the filling in the leaves. Take olive or vegetable oil. Grease the steamer rack with oil, and also brush the golubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls) with oil. You will need no more than one tablespoon of oil for the entire dish. Some of the oil will drip into the pot during cooking, so the calorie count of the portion will not increase significantly.
Pour water into a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. When it boils, place the steamer rack with the golubtsy inside and cover tightly.
Pour water into a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. When it boils, place the steamer rack with the golubtsy inside and cover it tightly. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. If the water evaporates during cooking, add a little more boiling water.
Sprinkle the finished healthy golubtsy with spelt with crushed black pepper and serve hot.
Sprinkle the finished healthy golubtsy with spelt with crushed black pepper and serve hot. For a sauce, use fat-free, unsweetened yogurt seasoned with dill, salt, and garlic.
And there you have it – beautiful, healthy Golubtsy ready to be enjoyed! This dish is a wonderful way to experience the comforting flavors of traditional cuisine with a modern, nutritious twist. Serve them hot, perhaps with the suggested yogurt-dill sauce for a creamy, fresh contrast. These cabbage rolls are also fantastic for meal prep, as the flavors meld and become even richer the next day. We hope you enjoy making and sharing this wholesome recipe. It's proof that healthy eating can be both simple and deeply satisfying. Bon appétit!
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