Cabbage Rolls
Yield: 16

Most Eastern European regions have their own version of the Cabbage roll, ours is a mixture of Bonnie's mom's and my (Elaine) mom's Romanian friend. In our research we found that most communities used some sort of smoked meat product, pork hocks, bacon or smoked kielbasa. Also layers of sauerkraut braised with the cabbage rolls and then served with sour cream were common in most regions.

Tomato Sauce

1x 28 oz can of plum tomatoes crushed or pureed
tomato juice until the cabbage rolls are covered
2x bay leaf
salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Cabbage rolls

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion minced
2 cloves garlic minced
16 large cabbage leaves ( steamed off the cabbage)
1 cup long grain white rice, parboiled (boiled for about 10 minutes), and cooled
1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Assembly

smoked kielbasa
oil to line the casserole dish
extra cabbage leaves to line the baking dish

Directions

1. add olive oil to skillet over medium heat, add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Let cool until room temperature.

2. Remove the core from a head of cabbage. Discard core. Place head of cabbage with base facing up in a pot of boiling water. Loosen the cabbage leaves by blanching in boiling water. remove leaves when they become loose and transparent ( about 2 minutes). Cut the hard rib from each leaf.

3. To make the cabbage roll filling, mix the cooled onion mixture, the cooled rice, the ground pork & beef . Season the mixture with salt & pepper add chopped parsley. Mix well.

4. To roll the cabbage roll: place cabbage roll in front of you, rib side to you, place 2-3 tbsp of filling in the leaf, roll up the center tucking in the sides . Place seam side down in prepared casserole dish. (See "assembly direction" #2 for casserole dish preparation.)

Assembly Directions

1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F

2. oil a 8x12 baking dish or duchy oven, layer some of the remaining cabbage on the bottom

3. Tightly fit a layer of cabbage rolls on top of the cabbage leaves, top with smoked kielbasa & tomato sauce. Cover and bake about 1& 1/2 - 2 hours

BE Catering
188 Hunter St.W#6
Peterborough, On
K9H 2L2
750-1265