- serves 6-8
In the early 1900s, Max Gruber left Budapest, Hungary on a bicycle and pedaled his way across Europe to the Atlantic coast and eventually sailed for the United States, ending up in New York’s lower east side. In 1927, he and his brothers-in-law Morris and Izzy Rappaport opened the first Jewish deli on Broadway, The Rialto.
Today, 73 years and three generations later, Max’s grandson Ziggy Gruber continues the family tradition as Chef/Owner of Houston’s most authentic New York-style delicatessen, Kenny & Ziggy’s. After Ziggy grew up in in delis, learning side-by-side from his father and grandfather, he graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in London and trained in a three-Michelin star London restaurant, and has operated delis in New York state and Los Angeles before opening Kenny & Ziggy’s in Houston in 2000. The rest is delicious history! Kenny & Ziggy’s is known for its sky-scraping sandwiches and authentic Old World specialties, such as stuffed cabbage.
Ingredients
Stuffed Cabbage
- 1 large cabbage, whole
- 1 medium cabbage, chopped
- 2 cups sauerkraut
Stuffing
- 1-1/2 lb ground beef
- 3/4 cup rice, cooked
- 1-1/4 cups finely chopped onion
- 4 eggs beaten
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Sauce
- 2 cans chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 cups onions roughly chopped
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 tsp sour salt
- 3-4 cups water
Directions
Place all sauce ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. Mix together all stuffing ingredients and set aside. In a large pot, bring water to boil. Core out the large cabbage and blanch in the boiling water until soft; remove from water and remove each individual leaf. Place 6 ounces of meat mixture on each cabbage leaf and fold in the sides to the center and roll up, like an egg roll. Layer the bottom of a disposable half-pan with half of the chopped cabbage, then layer with one cup of sauerkraut. Place cabbage rolls on top then add remaining shredded cabbage then remaining sauerkraut. Pour sauce on top, cover tightly and place in a 300-degree oven to bake for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Makes 6-8 pieces of stuffed cabbage.
Interested in submitting a recipe? Email Us.