Sweet & Sour Vegetarian Golabki (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)

Suzy_Q's Note:

I have made cabbage rolls many times and was always disappointed until I made them this way. The most delicious recipe, hands down. I will never use another one. The Hunt's and the gingersnaps are essential. If the sauce needs thinning use a little apple juice. I serve these with pierogi, polish cucumber salad and poppy seed dinner rolls.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 large head green cabbage

FILLING

• 1 large onion , ground
• 1 lb vegetarian beef substitute (or ground veggie burger)
• ½ cup uncooked brown rice
• 1 cup mushroom , ground
• 1 slice bread , soaked in milk
• 1 egg
• ¼ tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt or 1 teaspoon celery salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

SAUCE

• 29 ounces Hunts tomato sauce
• 1 cup vegetarian beef (use apple juice instead of water) or 1 cup mushroom broth (use apple juice instead of water)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 lemon , juice of
• 9 gingersnaps , ground fine
• 1 small onion , pierced with clove

Directions:

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.
2. Plunge cored head of cabbage in the water cooking about 5 minutes on each side, using tongs to turn.
3. While cabbage is cooking, prepare other ingredients.
4. In a large bowl, mix onion, vegetarian beef, rice, mushrooms, bread w/ milk, egg, ketchup and spices.
5. Mix well.
6. When cabbage is done, let cool for 5 minutes.
7. When ready to use, carefully peel back outer leaves and fill with about 2 Tablespoons of filling.
8. Roll the leaves up as you would for a burrito or an envelope, making sure you secure all the filling but not overly tight.
9. Carefully place rolls closely together in a large pot, packing them tightly until all the filling is used up.
10. Put the onion with cloves in the pot.
11. Pour tomato sauce and broth over the rolls and bring to a bubble.
12. Lower heat to low and simmer one hour, covered.
13. Add lemon juice, brown sugar and ginger snaps gently incorporating into the sauce (use a baster if you need) and let simmer for another 15 minutes.
14. Serve.