Cabbage, Spicy Stuffed

By Bellacucinam

Ingredients

• FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE (MAKES 3 CUPS)
• 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled plum tomatoes, with juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• Coarse salt
• FOR THE STUFFED CABBAGE
• Coarse salt
• 1 large head Savoy cabbage (2 to 3 pounds)
• 12 ounces ground chuck (90 percent lean)
• 12 ounces ground pork
• 2 cups cooked brown rice (from 1 cup dry)
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon hot paprika (kalustyans.com)

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

Make the tomato sauce: Pulse tomatoes with juice in a food processor until finely chopped. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender, about 6 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt. Let cool completely.

Make the stuffed cabbage: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cabbage head, and cook until outer leaves are just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. Peel outer layer of leaves, and drain. Return remaining cabbage to water, and repeat until all leaves are cooked and removed. Pat each leaf dry with a kitchen towel. Select 12 large light-green leaves. Reserve remaining leaves for another use.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using 2 forks, gently stir together beef, pork, rice, onion, parsley, paprika, and 1 tablespoon salt.

Working with 1 leaf at a time, trim thick part of rib with a paring knife, leaving leaf intact. Arrange about 1/2 cup filling (less for smaller leaves) in center of each leaf. Fold stem end of cabbage over filling. Fold in sides of cabbage. Carefully roll cabbage over to form a package, overlapping ends to seal. Transfer each, seam side down, to a large, shallow baking dish.

Spread sauce over stuffed cabbage leaves. Cover with parchment-lined foil, and bake until cooked through and cabbage is tender, about 1 hour.