Golubtsy

Ingredients

• 1 large head of cabbage
• 1/2 poundground beef
• 1/2 poundground pork
• 1/2 cup rice
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 2-3 tomatoes
• 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 sprig parsley
• salt, freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Wash cabbage and remove leaves, then soak leaves in boiling water for 1-2 minutes until they are soft.
2. Trim thick center vein from the bottom of each leaf.
3. Wash and clean carrot, chop into thin strips.
4. Sautee carrots and diced onions until tender.
5. Wash and finely chop parsley.
6. Boil rice to half-readiness -- make sure the rise is still somewhat hard, otherwise it will turn to mush when you boil it again.
7. Wash tomatoes, then puree tomatoes in a blender.
8. Clean garlic and crush in a garlic press.
9. Combine ground meat with rice, onion, carrot, garlic, tomato paste and parsley, add salt and pepper to taste, mix well.
10. Place 2-3 tablespoons of meat on each cabbage leaf.
11. Fold sides of cabbage over filling, and, starting with the stem end, roll the cabbage into tubes. Press the mixture into the leaves.
12. Line the bottom of a pot with cabbage leaves and place the rolled golubtsy inside.
13. Boil water, add tomato paste, and pour into pot.
14. Cook over a low flame for 45 minutes to an hour. Check for readiness -- cabbage should be soft but not mushy, meat should be cooked through.
15. Serve the golubtsy with the sauce they cooked in, and a dollop of sour cream.

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