Cabbage Rolls and Connections: Baking With Bubby’s Tatyana & Granddaughter Nora

In our YouTube series, Baking With Bubby, we feature our Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni, with their Bubbys, exploring how their families pass on recipes, traditions, and laughter in the kitchen. You can enjoy more family stories, episodes of Baking With Bubby, and recipes on our Facebook Community, Around the Table. 

We all know that food plays a significant role in Jewish culture, linking past and present generations. Traditional Jewish dishes are not only a way to satisfy hunger but also hold historical and religious significance, serving as symbols of our cultural identity and community. As we gather around the table with our loved ones, we partake in the legacy of our families, traditions, and cultures. 

In Bubby Tatyana Borisov’s episode, she and her granddaughter Nora Shvartsberg, who went on a Birthright Israel trip in the winter of 2014, set up shop in the kitchen.

Nora describes her bubby as “the embodiment of class and poise” and “organized to a T,” holding high expectations for her family members—especially Nora. Nora’s bubby has kept her connected to her Jewish heritage and taught her how to be resourceful—making magic with whatever’s left in the fridge.

Nora’s grandparents and parents immigrated to America from Ukraine. In the old country, food was scarce. Now, in the U.S., Nora’s family is lucky to have a surplus—a luxury that Nora expresses gratitude for. Nora’s family loves to cook for more people than they have on the guest list, happy to accommodate more guests and share leftovers.

Nora’s Taglit-Birthright Israel Experience

Nora went on her Taglit-Birthright Israel trip on December 31st, 2013 over New Years, arriving in Israel on January 1, 2014. She enjoyed the Israel Outdoors group, tagging along with New York City CUNY friends and students. Nora still keeps in contact with her NYC trip mates, and others who attended the trip from other parts of the world.

“My experience was great! I’m glad I chose the winter months to visit Israel because I can’t tolerate high heat. We had a great group and I even got to meet up with some family members. One of my favorite highlights was visiting Tzfat, a small artsy hideaway. I’d love to go back there sometime,” recalls Nora.

Connecting With Culture

When asked how Nora connects with her family and culture in the kitchen, her response was to make time for it. 

“Time is of the essence; share a meal and a story with your family members today, or you might lose the opportunity,” She explains. Nora recommends asking one question and letting the conversation grow from there. 

While Nora didn’t grow up religious, her grandparents fearfully practiced Judaism in Ukraine. Upon coming to America, practicing their religion became optional, and it was up to Nora where and how she connected with her Jewish faith. 

“There’s no right way to be Jewish or wrong way.” 

Judaism isn’t a one-size-fits-all religion. It empowers you to choose how you practice, and the specific pieces that enhance your Jewish identity and strengthen your connection to the culture.

“It’s comforting to know that I have the option [to freely practice Judaism without constraints] when somebody else did not have the option before.”

A Bubby’s Love

Bubby Tatyana gets joy out of helping her grandkids—especially her first grandchild, Nora.  One of their bonding activities is when Bubby Tatyana helps Nora clean her home. 

Bubby Tatyana laughed, “What’s gonna happen when grandma is no longer able to come help you?” 

“I’ll purposefully keep things messy so you can be around for a long time,” Nora laughed.

Nora, bubby, her mother, and a few other family members lived under the same roof for many years, which created an inseparably strong bond. Of course, with so many people under one roof, tensions were inevitable and a language barrier kept Bubby Tatyana homebound.

Back then, Nora was hesitant to learn the Russian language, but with the bribe of a dollar, she happily obliged and maintained the Russian language at home along with the rest of the family.

Smiling, Nora said, “When you’re six, a dollar you can buy the world with!”

The Food

When asked about her favorite dishes, Nora admitted that any starchy dish like potatoes and pierogies are her top favorite comfort foods—as well as Bubby Tatyana’s chicken soup and borscht. But, of course, Bubby’s cabbage rolls are a classic, and it was this dish that Bubby Tatyana and Nora shared with us. 

Bubby’s cabbage rolls have been a family staple for as long as Nora can remember. The cabbage rolls have changed slightly over time depending on what’s in stock at the grocery store, making each cabbage roll a unique experience. Equal parts sweet and spicy, the stuffed cabbage roll delicacy was passed down from generation to generation, starting with Bubby Tatyana’s own grandmother, who she admired dearly.

Nora shared with us, “I think the way food and cooking plays into my life is that it’s a way to connect people; really, it’s an interconnectedness between cultures.” 

The special relationship Nora and Bubby Tatyana share is unbreakable.

The Recipe 

Bubby Tatyana’s Cabbage Rolls:

1. Start by cutting slits in the cabbage to drain excess water; this will also help the cabbage heat through when cooking.
2. Bring water to a boil; add salt and two cups of rice. Stir often.
3. Bring more water to a boil in a separate pot; add cabbage. Stir often.
4. While your rice and cabbage boil, grate carrots and onions.
5. Add carrots and onions to a pan to saute; this will also get rid of excess water.
6. Separate half of the vegetable mix to use in the sauce; the other half will be for the stuffing.
7. Strain the rice once soft; mix with carrots, onions, ground meat, and the seasoning of your choice. Any leftover rice or veggies will get added to the tomato base sauce.
8. Add approximately one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste; add one tablespoon of white sugar and water to dilute the mixture.
9. Remove cabbage from the pot once soft.
10. Take soft cabbage and cut out the stem; lay the leaf flat and add one tablespoon of the meat and veggie mixture to the center of the leaf.
11. Roll the leaf up; add the roll to a dry pot lined with parsley and dill.
12. Repeat adding the rolls to the pot until the pot is full.
13. Pour the sauce mixture over the top of the rolls in the pot; use enough sauce to cover the rolls, but do not use all the sauce.
14. Cover the pot for an hour and a half on medium heat. Serve after and top the rolls with extra sauce.

Happy cooking!