Cabbage Rolls

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 medium cabbage
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground ham seasoning or 1/2 lb ham steak, pulsed fine in food processor
• 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons parsley, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• salt
• pepper
• 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, approximately
• 3/4 cup rice, cook according to instructions
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 beef bouillon cube

Recipe

• 1 cook rice according to directions; set aside. this can be done the night before.
• 2 preheat oven 350 degrees.
• 3 grease 11x14" baking pan.
• 4 with sharp knife cut core from cabbage. wrap in clean dishtowel and microwave approximately 10 minutes. begin by pulling off the outer leaves as they just become limp and pliable; set those aside. replace remaining dishtowel wrapped cabbage in microwave for 5 minutes, repeating the process of removing limp leaves until all leaves have been removed and are relatively soft.
• 5 in the meantime, should you need to grind your ham seasoning, place in food processor and pulse until the ham resembles ground beef. it will be a looser consistency.
• 6 in large, heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, fry ground beef and ham together until beef turns brown, breaking up chunks. allow about 1/4 cup or so of the liquid to remain in the bottom of the pot.
• 7 to the ground beef/ham add onions, bell pepper, garlic and cook until vegetables are limp, about 4-5 minutes. add the parlsey and mix.
• 8 add paprika and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 9 add 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and mix well, allowing it to absorb any liquids.
• 10 add cooked rice and toss until thoroughly incorporated. the mixture should appear relatively dry; if not, add additional breadcrumbs.
• 11 cup each cabbage leaf individually and spoon meat mixture into the center and fold over sides. place side-by-side each cabbage bundle into prepared pan. repeat this process until all cabbage leaves are filled.
• 12 in a small bowl, combine tomoto sauce and sugar; mixing well.
• 13 spoon a small amount on top of each cabbage bundle; spreading as you go.
• 14 mix beef bouillon cube with 1/3 cup water and pour into corner of pan, avoiding pouring over cabbage and tilting pan to distribute.
• 15 wrap pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. open carefully.
• 16 note: should you have more rolls than can fit in the pan, prepare additional pan. should you have more filling than cabbage leaves, place mixture in a greased oven-proof casserole or ramekin. top with butter and parmesan cheese and bake for about 20 minutes.