Holubky (Basic Slovak Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)

• rice↗3⁄4 cup
• large cabbage leaves↗12
• ground chuck or ground beef↗1 lb
• garlic salt1 teaspoon

  or to taste

• pepper↗1⁄2 teaspoon

  or to taste

• tomato sauce↗1 can

  divided

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Cook rice for 5 minutes; then drain.

2. 2

   Remove core from cabbage and place in a large pot of boiling salted water.

3. 3

   Boil until large outer leaves get slightly limp and separate from head (10 minutes); then remove and de-vein (save 2 cups cabbage water for sauce).

4. 4

   Mix together meat, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, partially cooked rice, garlic salt, and pepper.

5. 5

   Place about 4 tablespoons rice mixture (or according to size of leaf) on each cabbage leaf, fold the ends in over the filling and roll up.

6. 6

   Stack tightly in a large pot or dutch oven.

7. 7

   Add water saved from boiling cabbage and pour remaining tomato sauce on top.

8. 8

   Cover and cook over medium heat for 2 hours (check occasionally to make sure the bottoms aren't scorching; turn heat down if they start to).

9. 9

   Serve hot.