This is a traditional Polish dish called Golabki (stuffed cabbage rolls). It features tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling of ground beef, ground pork, and rice, all baked in a tomato sauce.
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water. Bring it to a boil. 2. Carefully place the whole cabbage head into the boiling water. Cover the pot. 3. Cook for 3 minutes until the outer cabbage leaves soften slightly. 4. Remove the cabbage head from the pot. Let it cool for about 10 minutes, or until you can safely handle the leaves. 5. Carefully remove 18 whole leaves from the cabbage head. Cut out any thick, tough center ribs from these leaves. Set these 18 leaves aside. 6. Chop the rest of the cabbage head into smaller pieces. Spread these chopped pieces evenly at the bottom of a casserole dish. 7. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 8. Add the chopped onion to the skillet. Cook and stir for 5 to 10 minutes, until the onion becomes soft and tender. 9. Remove the cooked onion from the heat and let it cool down. 10. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled onion, 1 pound ground beef, 0.5 pound ground pork, 1.5 cups rice, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 0.25 teaspoon black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly. 11. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 12. Take one of the reserved cabbage leaves. Place about 0.5 cup of the meat mixture onto the leaf near the stem end. 13. Fold the sides of the cabbage leaf over the filling. Then, tightly roll the leaf from the stem end to create a compact roll, like an envelope. 14. Repeat this process with the remaining cabbage leaves and meat mixture until all are used. 15. Place the finished cabbage rolls in a single layer on top of the chopped cabbage in the casserole dish. Season the rolls lightly with salt and black pepper. 16. In a separate bowl, whisk the 3 cans of tomato puree together. 17. Pour the tomato puree evenly over the cabbage rolls in the casserole dish. 18. Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil. 19. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour. The cabbage should be tender, and the meat filling should be fully cooked through.