Lebanese cabbage rolls
Lebanese cabbage rolls in the classic sense are rather thin, seasoned with local spices such as cumin, mint, nutmeg, and garlic. Cabbage rolls can be cooked until soft. I prefer ones where the cabbage still has a little crunch. These cabbage rolls are suitable for serving with lemon or yogurt, if desired.

Preparation time: 45 minutes assembling the rolls, 40-60 minutes stewing
Level: Not too complicated
Quantity: 25-30 cabbage rolls
Ingredients:
1 large head of cabbage
600 g minced beef
300 g long-grain rice
(see the preparation instructions below for the seasoning amounts)
Grated nutmeg
Dried mint
Black pepper
Sea salt
Ground cumin
Ground allspice
4-5 garlic cloves
Juice of 1 lemon for the cabbage roll cooking water
Lemon slices for serving

Preparation:
- Cut a slit in a large head of cabbage near the root on all sides and pull out the root so that the cabbage leaves are open.
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot and boil the cabbage heads for about 15 minutes. Carefully start peeling the leaves off the head of cabbage. Make sure the leaves don’t break. Separate 3 leaves, fill them, and at the same time, the leaves of the next layer will become softer and can be used.
- Cut the leaf in half along the long petioles, and remove the hard petioles.
- Prepare the filling. Mix the minced meat with the rice, then add 0.25 tsp of ground black pepper, 1 tsp of dried mint, 0.25 tsp of ground nutmeg, 0.5 tsp of ground allspice, and sea salt to taste.
- Form an oblong piece of minced meat in your hand, about 1 cm thick. Place it on the wider side of the cabbage leaf, roll it in a single layer inside the cabbage leaf, fold the edges of the cabbage leaf over the roll and roll the entire roll into a cigar shape. The diameter should be 2.5 to 3 cm.
- Wrap the entire filling in the cabbage leaves in this way.
- Line the bottom of the cooking pot with the remaining cabbage leaves and place one layer of cabbage rolls on top of the cabbage leaves.
- Peel and lightly crush the garlic and divide it over the cabbage rolls.
- Place the second layer of cabbage rolls crosswise over the first layer and the third layer crosswise over the previous layer.
- Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the cabbage rolls.
- Use the boiling water from the head of cabbage, take about 600 ml, add about 1 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp ground cumin, and dried mint, and pour over the cabbage rolls.
- Simmer the cabbage rolls over medium heat for 40-60 minutes. Check the cabbage rolls from time to time to see if they seem soft enough. When the rolls are ready, transfer them to a serving platter.
Serve with lemon slices, yoghurt if desired, and garnish with fresh parsley.
Ready!!






























