Cabbage Rolls (Finland)

World-Bites (66) / Cabbage Rolls

Due to the harsh climate, traditional Finnish cuisine included many grains and berries. Today contemporary Finns enjoy a wide variety of modern foods typical of Western Europe. Hunting and fishing are popular in Finland, with fish, moose and deer plentiful. The Finnish diet combines traditional country fare and upper class cuisine with modern continental style cooking. Spices have been adopted from both East and West. Kaalikaaryleet or Cabbage Rolls is a popular gourmet snack in Finland.

Ingredients

A large cabbage
Water, Salt

Filling:
1/2 cups raw rice
Water, salt
300 g ground meat
The core of the cabbage
1 small onion, grated
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) water
1/4 cup (1/2 dl) cream
salt, black pepper

For frying:
Butter,
Margarine, or oil

On top:
2 Tbsp syrup

Directions

1. Cut out the core of the cabbage.

2. Cook the cabbage in salted water until done.

3. Remove the leaves and drain. Pare down the thick base of each leaf.

4. Cook the rice in salted water.

5. Let the breadcrumbs swell in the water and cream mixture.

6. Mix the ground meat, breadcrumbs, onion, seasonings, and rice. Dice the core of the cabbage. And add to the ground meat mixture. Season.

7. Spread cabbage leaves on a board. Put 1-2 tablespoons of filling on each leaf. Wrap into little packages.

8. Place the packages side by side in a greased baking dish. Top with a few dabs of butter and pour on syrup.

9. Bake at 425 degrees F (225 degrees C) until slightly brown. Turn and bake some more.

10. Lower the temperature to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Baste and bake for 45-60 minutes.

11. Serve with cranberry jam or fresh puréed berries.