Cabbage Rolls-German

By MJH

Ingredients

• Montreal Steak Rub Seasoning Mix - Substitute (2oz.):
• 1 medium to large head green cabbage (about 3 lb)
• 1 lb ground lean beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 eggs
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Montreal steak spice
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 about 2 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp butter
• 2 about 2 cups beef broth
• 1 - 2 about 1 - 2 tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns
• 1/2 tablespoon white pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon coarse salt
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds (cracked in mortar)
• 3/4 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare cabbage head by removing the stalk. See below***
Cook head in a large pot of boiling, salted water for about 10 minutes until the leaves loosen. Remove leaves. (Use remainder of cabbage for another meal.)

Prepare meat mixture by mixing together the beef, pork, eggs, onion, bread crumbs, salt, steak spice and pepper.

Put about 1 heaping tbsp meat mixture on end of cabbage leaf.
Roll up tightly, tucking in sides. Fasten with a wooden toothpick.

In a large saucepan, over high heat, add oil and butter.
In batches, carefully brown cabbage rolls on all sides.
When all have been browned, return all cabbage rolls to pan and add beef broth so that the liquid almost covers the rolls.
Simmer gently for about 1 hour.

Carefully remove cabbage rolls unto a platter, removing the toothpicks.
Keep rolls warm while you make the gravy.

Mix corn starch with a bit of cold water.
Add as much as needed to the liquid in the saucepan until it is the desired consistency.
Season with salt and pepper if needed.

Serve cabbage rolls with potatoes (boiled or mashed) and a green salad on the side.


*** the process of removing the leaves from the raw cabbage head.
Put the cabbage head into a large pot of water and fill with water until the cabbage is submerged. This helps you estimate how much water to use so that the boiling water won't spill over once you add the cabbage.

Remove cabbage and put water on to boil. Meanwhile carefully cut out the center core of the cabbage so that the leaves will loosen easily once boiled.

Carefully put the cabbage into the water and let boil gently for about 10 minutes. You should be able to loosen the leaves, one after the other and remove from the pot. Set leaves aside until you have removed as many leaves as you need.