Thread: Cabbage Rolls

Made this last night and it was so good! I added 1/2 t of carraway seeds, used 2 strips of bacon, a pound of ground beef not just 12 oz and the way I did it it only made 8 rolls which was totally fine with me.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. cabbage (600-700 grams)
12 oz. hamburger (about 350 grams)
1 egg
1/3 c. bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. paprika powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram or oregano
Freshly ground pepper
1-2 strips bacon (40 grams)
1 c. beef broth
1 T. cornstarch mixed with 1/4 c. cold water

Preparation:
Peel any old or discolored leaves from the outside of the head of cabbage. Using a sharp knife, cut the "Strunk" or stem out of the cabbage, leaving a cone-shaped hole. Place the cabbage head in a large pot and fill the pot with water to cover or almost cover the cabbage. Add a teaspoon or two of salt.

Bring the pot to a boil, remove from heat and let the cabbage sit for several minutes. Peel the outer leaves off, one by one and drain the water from them. If, after you remove several leaves, the rest are sticking together, put the rest of the cabbage back in the hot water for a few minutes and try again.

While the cabbage water is coming to a boil, mix the hamburger (in Germany this is usually half pork, half beef) with the egg, bread crumbs, paprika, salt, marjoram and pepper until smooth.

Form 10 - 12, two inch long "meat rolls" using about 1/4 cup meat mixture each.

Lay out a cabbage leaf and cut out the thickest vein (only 1/3 to 2/3 of the way up the leaf) as necessary so you can roll the leaf. Place a meat roll in the thinner, cupped portion of the leaf, and fold the roll on three sides, then roll to the thickest part (like a burrito).

Tie like a gift package (in quarters) with kitchen string or, in a pinch, regular thread. This works well with two people.

Cut the strip of bacon into small pieces and brown it in a large sauce pan. Remove bacon.

Brown the cabbage rolls on two sides in the bacon fat.

Add 1/2 cup beef broth (or enough to cover pan to 1/4 inch depth), cover the pan with a lid and simmer 40 - 50 minutes, adding more beef broth as necessary to keep the cabbage rolls in 1/4 to 1/2 inch broth.

Remove the cabbage rolls to a warm serving dish (remove the string, too), add the cornstarch and water to the beef broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Pour over cabbage rolls.

Serve with boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes.