It sounds like you’re looking for Hungarian Layered Savoy Cabbage, known in Hungary as Rakott Kelkáposzta — a cozy, traditional casserole made with savoy cabbage, ground meat, rice, and sour cream.
Here is an easy, authentic, home-style recipe:
🇭🇺 Hungarian Layered Savoy Cabbage (Rakott Kelkáposzta)
Ingredients
- 1 medium savoy cabbage (kelkáposzta), cored and chopped
- 1 lb (450 g) ground pork or pork/beef mix
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup rice, cooked
- 1½ cups sour cream (tejföl)
- 1 tbsp paprika (Hungarian sweet paprika)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp oil or lard
- Optional:
- pinch of caraway seeds
- ¼ tsp hot paprika or chili
- ½ cup grated cheese (not traditional but common in modern versions)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Cabbage
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the chopped savoy cabbage.
- Cook 5–7 minutes until just tender; drain and set aside.
2. Cook the Meat Mixture
- Heat oil or lard in a pan.
- Add onion and cook until soft.
- Add garlic, stir briefly.
- Add ground meat and cook until browned.
- Season with:
- paprika
- salt
- pepper
- (optional) caraway or hot paprika
- Mix in the cooked rice.
- Remove from heat.
3. Layer the Casserole
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C.
- Grease a medium baking dish.
- Layer in this order:
- 1st layer: half the cabbage
- 2nd layer: all the meat–rice mixture
- 3rd layer: remaining cabbage
- Spread sour cream evenly over the top.
- Optional: sprinkle with a little paprika or cheese.
4. Bake
- Bake uncovered for 35–45 minutes until lightly golden and bubbling around the edges.
Serve
- Let cool slightly so it slices neatly.
- Serve warm with extra sour cream on the side.
Variations
Traditional smoky version
Add ½ cup diced smoked sausage (kolbász) or smoked bacon to the meat mixture.
Lighter version
Use ground turkey and low-fat sour cream.
Spicier version
Add ½ teaspoon of Erős Pista or hot paprika.
If you want, I can also give you:
- A one-pot stovetop version
- A vegetarian version
- A step-by-step photo-style guide
Just tell me!
