Prepare the necessary ingredients.
Cook the rice in salted water for 10-15 minutes until al dente.
1.5 cup rice
Chop the onion into small cubes, grate the carrot on a coarse grater.
1-2 pcs onion, 1-2 pcs carrot
Sauté the vegetables in vegetable oil. Start with the onion, and when it becomes slightly translucent, add the carrot. Continue frying everything together until fragrant, but without allowing it to become golden brown.
1-2 pcs onion, 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil, 1-2 pcs carrot
Prepare the filling for the cabbage rolls. Cool the cooked rice slightly and mix it with the ground meat. Season the meat with salt and pepper beforehand. Add half of the onion-carrot sauté to the mixture. Mix everything thoroughly.
400 g ground meat, 1.5 cup rice, 1 pinch salt, 1 pinch pepper
Carefully separate the cabbage leaves from the head, trimming them at the base, and then blanch them in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. It's better to cut or slightly pound the tough base of the central vein so that it's easier to roll up the rolls later.
1 pc cabbage
Start forming the cabbage rolls. They should be small enough to fit easily into the pots. To do this, place a tablespoon of filling at the base of the blanched cabbage leaf.
And roll it up into a roll.
Place the prepared cabbage rolls in the pots, 3-4 rolls in each. Place 1-2 tablespoons of the onion-carrot sauté on top.
Dilute the tomato paste with water to the consistency of kefir and add a little salt. Pour this liquid into the pots, filling them halfway. Cover the filled pots with lids and place them in an oven preheated to 200 ˚C for 1 hour. Then reduce the heat to 150 ˚C and continue baking the dish for another 0.5-1 hour. The final cooking time depends on the size of the pots.
1-2 tbsp tomato paste
Place the cooked golubtsy on a plate and serve, garnished with sour cream and sprinkled with fresh herbs. Enjoy your meal!