If you want an easy, hearty, wholesome dish, try haluski!
This Polish classic is a mix of buttery egg noodles, fried cabbage, and kielbasa with lots of butter.
Serve it on its own or as a healthy side dish. Ready in a jiffy, haluski is a perfect addition to your weeknight dinner rotation.
What Is Haluski?
Haluski is a dish of fried cabbage and noodles from Central Europe. It uses humble staples that come together for a quick meal.
This authentic comfort food varies slightly from region to region.
The Polish version sticks to the simplicity of cabbage and noodles. In Slovakia, though, it’s a dish of potato dumplings with buttery onions. Yum!
Traditional recipes are meatless, making the dish ideal for Lent. But you can throw in some kielbasa or bacon like I do for a healthy, flavor-packed meal.
Try it once, and you’ll make it again and again!
Ingredients
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make haluski.
- Cabbage – This vegetable turns sweet and tender, providing a perfect texture contrast.
- Onion – It enhances the dish with a subtle sweetness and complexity.
- Egg Noodles – These are the heart of the dish, offering a satisfying chew.
- Butter – It adds richness and silky smoothness to the dish. More is always better.
- Salt and Pepper – To taste.
- Bacon or Kielbasa – Though optional, I highly recommend it for that extra layer of smoky flavor.
How to Make Haluski
Making haluski couldn’t be easier. Let’s get cooking!
1. Cook the noodles. Boil salted water in a large pot. Toss in the egg noodles and cook to al dente. Drain well.
2. Fry the meat, if using. For added flavor, fry up some bacon or kielbasa in a skillet until crispy. Don’t discard the grease.
3. Sauté the vegetables. Melt butter in the same skillet. Saute the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, season the mix, and cook until just tender.
4. Combine everything. Bring the noodles and meat back into the skillet and stir. Season more, if needed.
5. Serve and enjoy. It’s great as a main or a side.
Tips for the Best Fried Cabbage and Noodles
Make the best fried cabbage and noodles with these tips:
- Don’t overcook! Aim for al dente to prevent them from breaking apart when mixed with the cabbage.
- Crisp up the bacon. Crispy bacon not only tastes better but also adds texture to the dish.
- Keep things uniform. Chop cabbage into bite-size pieces. This ensures every forkful is easy to eat and full of flavor.
- Don’t skimp on the butter. You can even use sweet cream butter for a more complex flavor.
- Season it up. A good amount of salt and fresh ground black pepper brings out the best in this dish.
- Toss in more veggies. Make your haluski heartier with carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- Kick up the flavor. For more flavorful noodles, use chicken broth instead of water to cook them.
- Get ahead of yourself. Chop the entire head of cabbage in advance and store it. It’ll make this dish even faster on busy nights.
- Try red cabbage. It changes the color and flavor slightly, but it’s an interesting twist if you’re up for it.
How to Store
Here’s how to keep haluski tasting fresh for days:
To Store: Store leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Warm haluski over the stovetop until heated through. You can also use the microwave if you’re in a hurry.
I don’t recommend freezing the dish because of the egg noodles.
If you like, you can freeze the vegetable mixture without the noodles. Then, just cook up some fresh noodles when you’re ready to serve it again.
What to Serve with Haluski
Haluski pairs well with a variety of dishes. Here’s what you can serve alongside:
- Baked Chicken Breast – Its lean, mild flavor balances the rich butteriness of Haluski.
- Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli – The crispy broccoli offers a nice textural contrast to the soft noodles and cabbage.
- Honey Garlic Pork Chops – Their savory flavor and slight fattiness complement the simplicity of haluski.
- Air Fryer Salmon – The light, flaky texture and delicate flavor of fish pair nicely with the dish.
- Meatloaf – Its comforting taste echoes the homey vibe of haluski.
More Recipes with Cabbage
Fried Cabbage
Cabbage Casserole
KFC Coleslaw
Oriental Coleslaw
Pineapple Coleslaw
Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles)
4-6
servings15
minutes30
minutes45
minutesThis authentic haluski is a Polish delicacy! The blend of noodles, cabbage, onions, kielbasa, and butter is impossible to resist.
Ingredients
1 medium-sized head of cabbage, cored and sliced into thin strips
1 large onion, thinly sliced
12 ounces egg noodles
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more if desired
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound (8 ounces) of bacon or kielbasa, chopped into small pieces, optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the egg noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Drain the noodles and set aside.
- f you are adding bacon or kielbasa, start by frying it in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy or well-cooked. Remove the meat from the skillet and set aside, leaving the grease in the skillet for added flavor. Skip this step for a vegetarian version.
- In the same skillet (or a clean one if not using meat), melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the sliced onion to the skillet and sauté until it starts to become translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the sliced cabbage to the skillet, stirring well to combine with the onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the cabbage and onion, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender and some pieces start to brown slightly, about 20-25 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, you can add a bit more butter to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Add the cooked noodles (and cooked bacon or kielbasa if using) to the skillet with the cabbage and onion.
- Stir well to combine all the ingredients, ensuring the noodles get coated with the butter and mix well with the cabbage and onion.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot as a main dish or a hearty side. Enjoy!
Notes
- Leave out the bacon or kielbasa for the authentic dish/vegetarian version.
- You can add other vegetables to the dish, such as carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- For a richer flavor, you can use chicken broth instead of water to cook the noodles.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
