Dairy-Free Polish Cabbage Rolls (Gołąbki) with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 large Green Cabbage
• 1 lb Ground Pork
• 1 cup Cooked Rice
• 1 medium Onion
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1 28 oz can Canned Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
• 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

1. 1Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully core the 1 large Green Cabbage. Gently remove the leaves one at a time. Place the cabbage leaves into the boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes until they are softened. Remove the leaves from the water and set them aside to drain.
2. 2In a large bowl, combine the 1 lb Ground Pork, 1 cup Cooked Rice, 1 medium Onion (diced), 2 cloves Garlic (minced), 1 tsp Salt, and 0.5 tsp Black Pepper. Mix everything together thoroughly with your hands or a spoon until well combined.
3. 3Lay out the softened cabbage leaves. Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat and rice mixture in the center of each leaf. Fold the sides of the cabbage leaf inward over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly from the bottom to create a neat package.
4. 4In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the 2 tbsp Olive Oil over medium heat (350°F / 175°C). Add the 1 28 oz can Canned Crushed Tomatoes, 2 tbsp Tomato Paste, 1 tbsp Brown Sugar, 1 tsp Salt, and 0.5 tsp Black Pepper. Stir these ingredients together until they are well combined.
5. 5Carefully place the rolled cabbage rolls, seam-side down, into the tomato sauce in the pot. Ensure the rolls are nestled together in a single layer if possible.
6. 6Bring the tomato sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat (around 200°F / 93°C). Once simmering, reduce the heat to low (around 180°F / 82°C), cover the pot tightly with a lid, and let the cabbage rolls simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check occasionally to ensure the sauce is gently bubbling and not boiling rapidly. The cabbage rolls are done when the cabbage is very tender when pierced with a fork.
7. 7Serve the Dairy-Free Polish Cabbage Rolls hot, spooning some of the rich tomato sauce over each roll.

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