Napa Cabbage Rolls with Ground Meat and Rice

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make Napa cabbage rolls with ground meat and rice? Gather all the ingredients. You can use the outer green leaves of the Napa cabbage, since they're larger. But I don't much like the color of the finished rolls that way, so I prefer the pale inner leaves — they also make daintier rolls. I add sautéed mushrooms to the filling too, even though they aren't in the recipe itself; that's strictly optional.

2. Step 2:

   

   Prepare the rice first. Parboiled rice is best for cabbage rolls — it stays firm and holds its shape well. Rinse the rice thoroughly in warm running water until it runs clear. Pour water into a pot, add salt, and boil the rice for 10 minutes, until half-cooked. Drain it in a colander and rinse with cold water. Let it drain completely.

3. Step 3:

   

   Put the ground meat in a bowl. For cabbage rolls, it's best to use equal parts ground pork and beef. Peel, wash, and finely grate the carrot. Add it to the bowl with the meat and season with salt and pepper.

4. Step 4:

   

   Add the boiled rice to the bowl.

5. Step 5:

   

   Mix everything well. If the filling is very stiff, add a little cold water.

6. Step 6:

   

   Separate the Napa cabbage into leaves and cut off the narrow bottom part of each — you'll need it later. Put the leaves in a bowl and cover them with hot water for 5 minutes to soften them. Drain and dry them.

7. Step 7:

   

   Lay out a cabbage leaf and place some of the filling on it.

8. Step 8:

   

   Wrap the filling in the leaf, shaping it into a cabbage roll.

9. Step 9:

   

   Cut the reserved cabbage bottoms into strips and spread them over the bottom of a pot. They'll act as a cushion between the pot and the rolls so they don't scorch. Arrange the cabbage rolls on top of the chopped cabbage.

10. Step 10:

    

    Pour water into a bowl, add the sour cream and tomato sauce, and stir. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.

11. Step 11:

    

    Pour the sauce over the cabbage rolls. It should almost completely cover them.

12. Step 12:

    

    Set the pot of cabbage rolls over medium heat and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook for one hour.

13. Step 13:

    

    Take the cabbage rolls off the heat, plate them, and serve right away with sour cream and herbs.

14. Step 14:

    

    Enjoy!