Голубцы [golubtsy]

cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice (traditional Russian dish).

i n g r e d i e n t s (for 2 persons)

• 300g of minced meat (beef or mixed)
• 2 tablespoons of rice
• 7-8 large cabbage leaves
• salt, pepper
• sunflower or any other oil

p r e p a r a t i o n

start cooking rice just as usual.
divide 7-8 outer leaves from a cabbage, put them in a pan and fill it with boiling water. it is important that the leaves are completely underwater, especially the thicker parts.

while the rice is cooking and the leaves are getting ready, start precooking the meat in a frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil. add salt and pepper, a little more than usual. when it's ready, add rice. mix well.

take the leaves out from the pan.they should become very soft (overall they spent about 20-25 minutes in hot water while you prepare the filling). if the leaves are very big, you can cut the thicker parts. put 1-2 tablespoons of meat&rice into each leaf, depending on its size. you should be able to still close them into square envelopes with the filling inside:

add a spoon of oil to the same frying pan you used to cook meat and put your cabbage envelopes there. cook them 10-15 minutes on medium fire under a cover, turning from side to side 1-2 times very carefully.

 

the dish is done! you can serve it with raw or canned vegetables, with any sauce you like or just on its own. (here served with pickled cucumbers and tomatoes).