My mom used to make these Beet Rolls at least once a month. She’d make several dozen whenever she had fresh beet leaves and freeze them, if there were any left after dinner. These freeze very well. Try them dipped in Cream and Onion Sauce.
Basic Dough Recipe
2 Tbsp. instant yeast (i.e. Bakipan, Fermipan)
7-8 cups white flour
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar
6 Tbsp. oil
1 tsp. salt
3 cups water (lukewarm)
Beet leaf tops (try to get fresh green leaves from young beets, if possible)
In a large mixing bowl, mix the yeast in with 4 cups of the flour. I use my Kitchenaid mixmaster.
Make a well in this flour mixture, add the eggs, sugar, oil, and salt. Using a mixing spoon or the dough hook of your mixer, stir to blend. I use the #2 setting on my mixer, gradually adding in the water, one cup at a time. Be sure to stop the beater and scrape down the edges. Blend well and add the remaining flour. The dough will be soft and pull away from the edges of the bowl. This may take up to 10 minutes of kneading.
Turn out onto your counter (lightly floured) knead a couple of more times before putting into another lightly oiled mixing bowl. Flip the dough over to coat it a bit with the oil that’s in the bowl. Cover with a tea towel. Punch the dough down and let it rise again for 15 more minutes.
After 30 minutes the dough will have risen to the top of the bowl, doubled in size. Turn it out on your lightly floured counter. Roll out and cut the dough into small pieces ( or pinch off about 2 Tbsp.) for each roll.
Wash the beet leaves and spin them dry. Set them aside to allow them to wilt a bit.
Spray a cookie sheet with Pam or brush with oil.
Roll the piece of dough by hand and wrap the beet leaf loosely around It. These beet rolls look similar to cabbage rolls. Fill the greased cookie sheet with one layer. Do not overlap.
Leave them to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. I do not cover them.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes in a 350F. oven.
NOTE: This recipe can make 5 dozen rolls.
To serve the beet rolls, cover them when still hot with a Cream and Onion Sauce.
I fry 1 large diced onion until soft, add some heavy whipping cream and stir until its thickened. Add 1 Tbsp. chopped dill and pour over the rolls. Serve warm.
25 Comments
petrosha's blog 
My mom always used to let the leaves wilt a bit….picking them a couple of days before using them…..I guess it made the leaves pliable for rolling.
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I am an older Ukrainian girl and where i come from , with the bread dough, are called “Beetniks” Beet rolls are made with cooked rice and tons of dill weed rolled and baked in thick cream. Oh so wonderful!!
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My wife made them for supper her best batch ever she said
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i use frozen thawed bread dough – pinch bit off – roll in chopped green onions and fresh dill with bit of salt – then wrap in wilted beet top leaves – i put leaves in boiling water for few seconds and drain then roll up – i also thicken cream sauce with bit of corn starch -green onion and dill – these are to die for – and i make them and eat them – never any left to freeze lol ma
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I chop the beetroot leaves into my salad. It gives the salad a interesting taste and I love it. Very healthy. Plant my own beetroot for the leaves and fruit.
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Can I freeze these rolls ? I want to make them ahead of time:)
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yes make them then put on greased cookie sheets freeze bag when frozen solid – place on greased sheets to bake or in casserole dish – however you do it normally when thawed and bake as usual – i freeze many for winter –
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For beet rolls. When you freeze them do you cook from frozen or let them thaw first?
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Hello Deb,
Thank you for checking out my blog. Yes, absolutely! In fact, you can even make a double batch and then divide them and freeze them into portions that you can use for special occasions. If I ever get enough to freeze (they are often all eaten before I can) I have kept them up to 6 months in a freezer.
Petrosha
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Make in a restaurant pan and after 10 minutes pour your warmed cream,onion,dill sauce over them. Temp down and leave baking another 30 minutes. Fattening but oh so good.
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We always made this with not quite completely cooked rice–salt and pepper and fresh dill. Put beetleaf rolls in casserole –depending on the size of the dish pour about 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup of whipping cream over and bake for 20 or 30 minutes at 350 F.
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Add some fresh garden dill to that cream sauce and you are in heaven!
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And some garlic too 😉
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what is the Ukrainian word for these
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Hello MJN,
Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog. I recall my family calling the beet rolls буряка булочки. However since you emailed I started asking some of my friends and older family relatives. Consistent answers? Absolutely not. It seems that there are many variations in not only the way these buns are made, but also in what they are called.
For instances, my uncle calls them holupsti булочки. Another name is буряк holupsti хліб. You might want to also check out http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/ukrainianmaincourses/r/Ukrainian-Beet-Leaf-Rolls-With-Bread-Dough-Filling-Recipe-Holubtsi-Z-Khlibnoho.htm
Hope this helps!
Petrosha
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MJN—holubtsi are made with rice rolled in cabbage leaves!!
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Can beet leaves be frozen? If so, should they be blanched first. I am just concerned after they thaw, they will be much too soft to work with.
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Hello Carol,
Thank you for checking out my blog. Yes, absolutely. Beet leaves can be picked (or bought from your local market or store) and frozen. I prefer to buy them and use them the same day, as I believe the flavor is stronger. However, when I do need to freeze them I wash them, pat them to dry and laying them flat, freeze them in zip lock type of bags. When you defrost, just let them thaw. In a way they behave very much like cabbage leaves when making Cabbage Rolls.
Thank you again and enjoy the beet leaf holubsti.
Petrosha
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thank you – making these again now – having company for lunch tomorrow – new spuds with dill cream sauce too – pyrogies with mushroom sauce – and borscht all from garden here – (minus mushrooms lol ) thank you for sharing recipe – i waited patiently – thanks again love marlie
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Thank you Marlie for checking out my blog.
Check out my newest version Ukrainian Beet Leaf Holubsti #2.
Have a wonderful lunch.
Petrosha
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Can you freeze beet buns. If so at what stage?
Thank you in advance.
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Hello Maggie,
Thank you for checking out my blog.
Yes, absolutely. Beet rolls or beet buns can be frozen. I prefer to bake them before freezing. It’s quicker and just easier to thaw and heat up later.
Bake them according to the recipe, cool and then freeze. I often pull them apart or cut them before freezing.
If you want, you can make them and on the second rise after rolling with the leaves, wrap well by covering the pan with one sheet of parchment paper and then a plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap. I also protect them by placing the in a freezer bag.
Petrosha
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Petrosha, my wife and I lived in Dauphin right after we got married in Oct 20 1956. At that time my wife had relatives there but time has taken its toll. I like to make borstch and I usually make a big batch so I have some to give away. I would like to tell you the name of my wife’s relatives that lived there but I don’t know if I’m allowed to. The last of the people that were her uncle and aunt that lived on a farm at Fork River. I’m glad I found your blog. I will read it more in days to come. However I’m 87 years old and I’m not sure how many more days to come, but I want to make Piroski, and make holubtsi with beet leaves. I remember my friend’s grandmother used to make them when I was a kid. They were just so yummy.
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Hello Donald,
Thank you for checking out my blog. You can tell me relatives names if you wish, and I will not publish them. Enjoy the recipes and I’ll try to bring more recipes and memories to remind you of Dauphin and surrounding areas in Manitoba.
By the way, you probably have many, many years yet to make piroski because I believe no one is “old” until they turn 99! I think it was George Burns who said that he would live to a great age because he was well-preserved by smoking cigars and drinking Martinis (and he did to 100). I think a shot of vodka and a bowl of Borscht work as well. 😊
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I make these all the time in the summer when I have beets in the garden. My mom made them all the time
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