Golubtsy

Ingredients

• 1 largehead green cabbage
• ½ lbground beef
• ½ lbground pork
• 1 cupcooked white rice
• 1 mediumonion, finely chopped
• 3 clovesgarlic, minced
• 1 largeegg, beaten
• 1 tspsalt
• ½ tspblack pepper
• 1 tspsweet paprika
• 1 can (15 oz)crushed tomatoes
• ½ can (8 oz)tomato sauce
• 1 tbsptomato paste
• 1 cuplow-sodium beef broth
• 2 tbspfresh dill, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
• 1 tbspsour cream (optional for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1
   Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Core the cabbage and gently peel off whole leaves. Blanch leaves for 2 minutes until pliable, then transfer to ice water and drain on towels.
2. 2
   In a skillet, sauté half of the onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add half the garlic and cook 30 seconds more; cool slightly.
3. 3
   In a bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, cooked rice, sautéed onion-garlic mixture, remaining raw onion, beaten egg, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly.
4. 4
   Lay a cabbage leaf flat, place 2–3 tbsp of filling near the stem end, fold in sides, and roll up tightly. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
5. 5
   Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). In a Dutch oven, whisk crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, remaining garlic, and fresh dill. Bring to a gentle simmer.
6. 6
   Arrange cabbage rolls seam-side down in a single snug layer in the sauce. Spoon a little sauce over the tops.
7. 7
   Cover and bake for 60–75 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and meatballs are cooked through.
8. 8
   Let rest 10 minutes. Serve hot, ladled with sauce and garnished with extra dill and a dollop of sour cream if desired.