Russian: Golubtsy (Cabbage Rolls)

Recipe by Paul Young <paul@cooking-with-paul.com>

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 12 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 medium carrots, shredded
• 1 cup rice, cooked
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 medium head cabbage
• 2 cups chicken stock (or 2 teaspoons chicken base dissolved in water)
• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 3 tablespoon tomato paste (approx)
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• Garnish with chopped parsley or fresh dill and sour cream

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Make meat filling: in a large skillet, saute onions in olive oil until soft (about 5 minutes); add the minced garlic, saute briefly (another minute)
3. Remove half of the onion/garlic mixture and set aside
4. Add ground beef, cook with remaining onion/garlic mixture until done
5. Add carrots, rice, allspice, paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper (to taste); stir briefly, turn off heat and let cool
6. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil
7. Core cabbage, discard outer leaves; place cabbage leaves in boiling water and cook just long enough to soften leaves (about 10 minutes)
8. Drain cabbage in a colander and cool under cold running water
9. Cut thick ribs from larger leaves, then halve the leaves (but keep smaller leaves intact)
10. Set aside the best leaves for the rolls (trimmings can be used to line the baking dish later)
11. Make the rolls: take a handful of meat mixture and put it inside the cabbage leaf, then roll like a burrito (first fold the ends over the filling, then roll into a tight roll); if needed, use a toothpick to hold the roll together
12. Make the sauce: in a saucepan, combine remaining onion/garlic mixture with the diced tomatoes and chicken stock, bring sauce to a boil
13. Add tomato paste, agave nectar, salt, and pepper to taste; simmer for 15 minutes
14. Spread half of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a ceramic baking dish; add the cabbage trimmings (if desired)
15. Arrange the rolls on top of the sauce, then pour the remaining sauce over the top
16. Place baking dish in an oven and bake uncovered for about 45-50 minutes
17. To serve: garnish with parsley or fresh dill and sour cream