Hungarian Stuffed Cabbage

Submitted by Jerri Rosa

"One of our favorite comfort foods. Freezable"

 

• Ready In: 3hrs
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 large cabbage, about 4 pounds
• 1 egg
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1⁄2 cup converted rice
• 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups sauerkraut
• 6 ounces tomato paste

directions

1. To make filling: Combine ground meats, onion, rice [uncooked], egg, salt, pepper and paprika.
2. Cabbage: Fill large pot with enough water to cover cabbage. Bring water to a boil. Trim any damaged outer leaves from cabbage. Stick a large fork into core of cabbage, and place in boiling water, holding onto fork. With a small sharp knife, loosen and remove outer leaves as they become soft and pliable. Chop remaining cabbage, that is too small to roll, set aside.
3. Alternatively, cabbage can be placed in a large bowl and covered with boiling water for about 5 minutes-this process can be repeated if necessary.
4. Rolls: cut off thick edge of the stem. Put about 2 tablespoons of filling on a leaf, fold sides in and roll from thick end of leaf.
5. Assembly: Place1/2 tomato paste. if using on bottom of pan, or cover bottom of pan with some tomatoes or tomato juice. Place rolls, seam side down in the pot. Add sauerkraut , tomatoes and remaining chopped cabbage. Repeat layering process, leaving layer of tomatoes and sauerkraut on top. If using paste, fill pot with water til rolls are covered. If using tomatoes or juice, water may be added too.
6. Bring pot to boiling, cover tightly and simmer gently for 11/2-2hours or til cabbage is tender.
7. Measure out 1 cup of cooking liquid. Mix 2 tablespoons of melted shortening or oil and 2 tablespoons of flour in saucepan. Gradually add the cooking liquid. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and bubbles for 1 minute. Pour over cabbage in pot; simmer 5 minutes.
8. Best served the next day. Great with mashed potatoes and seeded rye bread.
9. Can be prepared in slow cooker on low for 6-8hours.
10. Canned tomatoes or tomato juice can be substituted for paste.

Reviews

[Mike Vasmatics]

In lieu of boiling you can freeze the cabbage, no finger tip burning that way. Now, with the help of your freezer, you can put the boiling pot away and have roll-able cabbage leaves as soon as you defrost a frozen head. How to Do It: Remove the tough outer leaves, rinse and core the cabbage. Pat it dry and place each head in a separate zip-top plastic bag and freeze. When ready to use, defrost the cabbage and the leaves will peel off easily. Whit this method it becomes real easy to trim the spine of the leaves.

 

[Janis Eschbach]

This is similar to my Hungarian grandmother's recipe and hers is great. By using raw rice, it absorbs alot of the liquid as it cooks. Also, put some sauerkraut on the bottom ( be sure to drain it well), pile the stuffed cabbages on , add more sauerkraut and leftover chopped cabbage and pour a large can of tomato juice over it. Yummy!

 

[golddigge-wally]

What can i say but WOW Yummy.