Palestinian: Malfouf (stuffed cabbage leaves)

Recipe by Fairouz AbuGhazaleh <airouzabughazaleh@gmail.com>

(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

• 1 head green cabbage (3-4 lbs)
• 1½ cups short-grain rice
• ½ lb ground beef
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ bunch parsley (chopped)
• 3 tomatoes
• 8 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 2 lemons
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1½ to 2 cups water
• Yogurt (optional)

Procedure:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot; add the cabbage head and boil for about 10 minutes to soften
2. Carefully take apart the leaves using a knife and tongs; drain leaves and remove stalk in the center (each leaf should be about the size of the palm of your hand, some leaves may need to be cut in half); optional: set aside the stems
3. Prepare the stuffing: Combine uncooked rice, ground beef, tomato paste, vegetable oil, olive oil, and spices; mix well
4. Take one cabbage leaf at a time, add about a teaspoon of stuffing in the middle of the leaf (or more if leaf is large), fold in the sides of the cabbage and roll (tip: two or more of the smaller leaves can be combined to make one cabbage roll)
5. Dice the tomatoes and arrange on the bottom of a large pot (you can also add some of the stems that you removed from the cabbage leaves)
6. In a large pot, add the stuffed cabbage rolls one layer at a time; add a few garlic cloves in between each layer (optional: also season with more salt and black pepper between each layer)
7. After all the cabbage leaves have been arranged, add about two cups of water to the pot; place an upturned plate on top of the leaves in the pot to hold them in place
8. Bring pot to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for two to two and a half hours; about half-way through, add the juice of two lemons (also add more water if needed)
9. When cabbage is cooked, add the butter to the top layer
10. When you are ready to serve, flip the pot onto a pan that is larger than the pot
11. Serve cabbage rolls warm with yogurt on the side (optional)