Cabbage rolls in a pot
Description
The dish is prepared without unnecessary complications. I accidentally discovered this recipe for cabbage rolls cooked in a pot when I visited my colleague's home. It was a grand celebration (we were marking a promotion), and the table was overflowing with treats. Among all the dishes were these cabbage rolls. I tried one, then a second, then a third. When I counted how many I'd eaten that evening, I was horrified and avoided stepping on the scale for a couple of days just in case. At the first opportunity, I asked my colleague about the ingredients and cooking method. As it turned out, this was the classic Moldovan recipe for cabbage rolls in a pot. Now I make them quite often. Although, to be honest, I've made a few minor adjustments to the ingredients—adapted it for my family's taste—but the cabbage rolls didn't become any less delicious. Try them yourself. The dish is ready to serve.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
So, prepare the ingredients: peel the onion and chop it into small cubes, grate the carrot on a coarse grater, and rinse the rice. I usually buy ready-made ground meat, but in the original recipe, pork and pork fat were used—finely chopped, with the fat rendered first. The finely chopped pork was then fried in the rendered fat. However, I find it easier to use regular ground meat.
- 2
Step 2
Now for the leaves: the original recipe uses fresh grape leaves, but not everyone in our household is fond of this exotic ingredient, so I use half marinated grape leaves (since fresh ones aren't available) and half marinated cabbage leaves (which, by the way, give a very unusual and interesting flavor). Choose thinner cabbage leaves, as they're easier to work with.
- 3
Step 3
Now heat vegetable oil in a skillet and sauté the carrots and onions until the vegetables become soft.
- 4
Step 4
Then add the tomatoes, mix and cook everything together for a few minutes.
- 5
Step 5
Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a bowl with the minced meat, add the rice and break in an egg. Season with salt and sprinkle with spices.
- 6
Step 6
Mix everything thoroughly and let the meat mixture sit in a cool place for 10 minutes.
- 7
Step 7
Line the bottom of the pot with grape leaves and cabbage leaves, then start rolling the cabbage rolls. They should be quite small, with each containing 1-1.5 teaspoons of filling. These cute little morsels are just perfect.
- 8
Step 8
Now transfer them to jars and cover with grape or cabbage leaves on top.
- 9
Step 9
Pour warm broth or simply salted water over the cabbage rolls, place the pots in the oven. For the first half hour, the temperature should be about 170 degrees, then reduce it to 150 and simmer for another half hour. Then lower it to 50 and cook for 40 minutes. That's it—the cabbage rolls are ready to serve. And what about you?