Instant Pot® Golabki (Polish Cabbage Rolls)

This recipe for traditional Polish cabbage rolls made in the Instant Pot® shaves a couple hours off the wait time for this amazing entree.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 373 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 onion, chopped
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 large head cabbage
• ½ cup ketchup
• 4 teaspoons minced garlic
• ½ cup white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 20 ounces diced tomatoes
• 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef (90%)
• 3 cups cooked white rice, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Core cabbage from the bottom, being careful not to split the head, to keep leaves whole.

Step 2

Fill a large pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Carefully submerge the cored cabbage into the water, cover, and boil for 8 minutes.

Step 3

Carefully remove cabbage from water. Use tongs and a spatula to gently separate outer leaves and lay them on a clean plate. Continue removing leaves; when leaves resist removal, return cabbage head to boiling water. Cook another 6 to 8 minutes. Repeat procedure until leaves are less than 4 inches in size. Chop remaining cabbage and set aside. Drain water from the pot and return it to the stove.

Step 4

Add butter to the pot and heat over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ketchup, vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, marjoram, onion powder, and salt. Bring to a light boil, about 3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes. Cover and simmer sauce until needed.

Step 5

Combine ground beef, 1 cup cooked white rice, eggs, black pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl. Use hands to mix filling well.

Step 6

Place a rack inside a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®). Add 1 cup water.

Step 7

Meanwhile, assemble cabbage rolls on a clean cutting board. Lay 1 cabbage leave with stem facing you and outer surface of leaf facing down. For larger leaves, place 2 tablespoons meat filling on the leaf. Roll up to center first, tuck in left and right sides, and continue rolling to completely enclose filling. Place rolls, seam-side down, in a single layer on the rack in the Instant Pot®. Cover layer with 1/2 to 1 cup of sauce. Create another layer of rolls and cover with sauce. Repeat to within 1 inch of the top of the Instant Pot®; if you have excess rolls, cook another batch separately.

Step 8

Close and lock the lid. Set the vent to sealing and select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 18 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

Step 9

Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 15 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.

Step 10

Carefully remove rolls from the pot using tongs and transfer to a casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Remove wire rack from pot. Turn Instant Pot® to saute mode.

Step 11

Stir cornstarch and water together in a bowl. Stir mixture into the sauce using a spatula; keep stirring until sauce has thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour sauce over rolls in the casserole dish and serve hot.