Russian Recipes II : Golopsi- Cabbage Rolls

The long awaited for recipe.... (insert drum roll here!)

Golopsi

Russian Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs. ground beef

2 large carrots, grated

3 medium onions- finely chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Cabbage- the largest one you can find!

1/4 C tomato paste

3/4 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Heat a large pot (large enough to fit the cabbage in) of water till it is almost boiling. Brown the ground beef w/ the carrots and onions. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Cut around the core of the cabbage, then place the entire cabbage, core up, into the hot water. As the cabbage cooks, gently peel away the leaves from the head. When 2 or 3 leaves are freed, remove the head from the pot. Cook the leaves till they are tender, but not completely wilted. Carefully remove from the water and set aside. Cook 10-12 leaves. Lay a leaf flat -you may need to cut a slit in the "stem area" to help it lay flat. Place about 1/4 C of the meat mixture into the center of the leaf. Fold the "stem area" over the mixture, then fold the sides towards the middle. Finish by rolling the remainder of the leaf. Set aside. After all the leaves are filled heat a thin layer of oil in a frying pan. Lightly fry each roll till golden brown, then place in a 9x13 baking dish. Combine the tomato sauce and water and pour over top of the cabbage rolls. Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

* I often add rice, sweet peppers, garlic, or sausage to the filling...So, feel free to try your own version!