Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Ingredients:

– 1 large head of cabbage
– 1 lb ground beef
– 1 lb ground pork
– 1 cup cooked rice
– 1 large onion, finely chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 large egg
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1 teaspoon paprika
– 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
– 1/2 cup beef broth
– 2 tablespoons tomato paste
– 1 tablespoon brown sugar
– 2 tablespoons lemon juice
– 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

 Instructions:

1. **Prepare the Cabbage:**
– Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
– Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
– Place the whole head of cabbage into the boiling water for a few minutes.
– Remove the cabbage and let it cool slightly. Carefully peel off large, whole leaves. Repeat until you have about 12-14 leaves.

2. **Make the Filling:**
– In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, salt, pepper, paprika, and dried thyme. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.

3. **Stuff the Cabbage Leaves:**
– Place a cabbage leaf on a flat surface. Trim the thick vein at the bottom of the leaf if necessary.
– Place about 1/4 cup of the meat mixture in the center of the leaf. Fold the sides over the filling and roll up tightly, tucking in the sides as you go.
– Repeat with the remaining leaves and filling.

4. **Make the Sauce:**
– In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine.

5. **Cook the Cabbage Rolls:**
– Place the stuffed cabbage rolls seam-side down in the pot with the sauce.
– Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the cabbage is tender and the filling is cooked through.

6. **Serve:**
– Remove the cabbage rolls from the pot and arrange them on a serving platter.
– Spoon the sauce over the rolls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Enjoy your homemade stuffed cabbage rolls!