Altbaerli's cabbage rolls

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 750 g white cabbage
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• some salt
• 50 g smoked bacon
• 1 onion(s)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 100 g sour cream
• ¾ liter meat broth
• 400 g minced meat, mixed
• 2 rolls, from the previous day
• ⅛ liter milk, hot
• 1 egg(s)
• 1 pinch(s) of salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 3 tbsp oil

Instructions

Working time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 1 hour

Cut the rolls into cubes and pour hot milk over them. Bring about 2 liters of water to a boil in a large pot, add salt and caraway seeds. Add the cabbage head and turn it in the hot water until the first outer leaf is soft and can be easily removed. Use a sharp knife to separate the leaves from the stalk. Gradually remove about 14 leaves in this way (the filling is enough for 12 leaves). Rinse the leaves in cold water and drain well on kitchen paper. Use a sharp knife to flatten the thick leaf veins very thinly. Cut the fine leaves from the inner part of the cabbage head into thin strips and chop finely. Briefly boil in the boiling blanching water and shake well to dry. Squeeze out the water from the soaked rolls and knead them thoroughly with the minced meat, egg, 1 pinch of salt, finely chopped parsley, finely chopped cabbage and a little pepper, then divide into 12 equal parts. Place one cabbage leaf on each side. Place a portion of the minced meat mixture in the center of the cabbage leaf, fold it in from the sides, and roll it up from the leaf stalk. Tie it with kitchen string. Cut the bacon into small cubes. Add it to a large casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of oil and render the fat over medium heat. Remove the crispy fried bacon cubes. Fry the finely chopped onion in the bacon fat. Remove the onion from the casserole dish, add the remaining oil, and fry the cabbage rolls on all sides. Add the bacon and onions and pour in the stock. Put the lid on and let the cabbage rolls simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove the cabbage rolls from the pot. Mix the tomato paste and sour cream and stir into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.