Traditional Hungarian Cabbage Rolls

Homemade Traditional Hungarian Cabbage Rolls - Töltött Káposzta

Several years ago, back in 2014, I took another cabbage rolls picture <da:thumb id="488435657">.
I haven't fully decided whether to keep both pictures or replace it with this new one.
But since my food photography techniques have improved over the years, it'd be fitting that I'd take another picture of my tasty cabbage rolls.
Since I have the recipe posted already on the other picture, I thought I might as well add it to this picture as well.

RECIPE
Hungarian Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

1 head of cabbage
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp salt

Meat Filling
1 lb ground pork (or mixture of pork, veal/beef or all beef)
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 medium onion, finely chopped/grated
2 garlic gloves, grated
1 tbsp sweet red paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2-3/4 tsp ground black pepper


Sauerkraut/sauce
Heart of the cabbage, chopped
3 cups tomato juice
1 cup water
1/2 tbsp chicken powder/Vegeta powder
1 tbsp sugar
Few sprigs of dill

Cooking Instructions

Cabbage

1. Remove the green outer leaves then cut out the core of the cabbage.
2. Put the cabbage head, salt and vinegar in a large pot. Cover with cold water.
3. Heat the ingredients on high and bring to boil for 5 mins.
4. Slowly and gently remove the cabbage leaves one by one from the head of cabbage from the water.
5. Remove thick vein from cabbage leaves and let cool.

Meat Filling

In a large bowl combine all ingredients to the meat filling.

Assembling the Cabbage Rolls

To stuff the cabbage, you will take an individual cabbage leaf and roll it around a spoonful of meat filling.

1. Lay a single cabbage leaf on a flat surface.
2. Put a large spoonful of meat filling in the center of the cabbage leaf.
3. Folder the bottom of the cabbage leaf over the filling.
4. Fold one end over.
5. Wrap the adjacent end over the fold and meat filling.
6. Roll the cabbage leaf around the meat filling.
7. Once rolled, push the open end of the roll in with your thumb (it should look like a belly-button.)
8. Set aside.

Assembling the Dish

1. Place the chopped cabbage and dill on the bottom of a large Dutch oven.
2. Carefully place the cabbage rolls over the chopped cabbage.
3. Pour the tomato with the sugar over everything.
4. Add water mixed chicken/Vegeta powder with to cover the cabbage rolls completely.
5. Cook on medium-high heat for about 45 mins.
6. Once cooked, serve with fresh bread and sour cream as garnish.

* Makes about 4-5 servings;
** Can be also cooked with pork shank and/or bacon to add extra flavor.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU MAKE THE RECIPE AND HOW IT TURNS OUT FOR YOU.
IF YOU RUN INTO ANY TROUBLE WHILE MAKING IT OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME!