Classic Homestyle Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

1 c COOKED long-grain rice, about ⅓ c uncooked to yield 1 c cooked

1.5 lb lean ground beef

1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 large egg

1 yellow onion, peeled and minced

⅓ c chopped fresh parsley

3 cloves garlic, minced

1.5 tsp salt

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

½ tsp dried dill, dill weed

½ tsp onion powder

½ to 1 tsp red chili flakes, optional

3 13.5-ounce cans tomato sauce, divided (about three 398-ml cans or 5 c of tomato sauce)

1 medium head green cabbage, about 18 leaves for the rolls, plus extra for the bottom and top of the dish

½ c water, leftover from boiling the cabbage

Chopped fresh dill, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cook Rice: Prepare the rice according to the package instructions. And set aside.

Mix Filling: In a large mixing bowl. Combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, egg, cooked rice, minced onion, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, dried dill, onion powder, and red chili flakes (if using). Add ½ cup of tomato sauce. And mix everything thoroughly.

Prepare Cabbage: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the whole cabbage. And cook covered for 8-10 minutes. Just until the leaves are soft enough to peel off. Remove from water. And let cool.

Peel the leaves. Cutting out the hard core from each leaf. If leaves are still stiff. Return them to the boiling water. For a few minutes.

Assemble Rolls: Lay out a cabbage leaf. Place about ¼ cup of the meat mixture in the center. Fold in the sides. And roll up tightly. Place the roll seam-side down in a baking dish. Lined with some cabbage leaves.

Make Sauce: In a bowl. Whisk together the remaining tomato sauce. And ½ cup of the water used to boil the cabbage. Pour this sauce over the assembled cabbage rolls in the dish. Top with additional cabbage leaves.

Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil. And bake in the preheated oven. For about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Or until the meat is fully cooked. And the rolls are tender.

Serve: Remove from oven. Let cool slightly. And discard the top layer of cabbage leaves. If desired, garnish with fresh dill before serving.