Kāpostu tīteņi -- Cabbage-Wrapped Meatballs

Serves many

• 10 oz beef, ground
• 10 oz pork, ground
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 - 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1 slice bread
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs (as needed)
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp crushed red chile flakes
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 head green cabbage
• salt
• oil

Soak bread and rice in milk. Grind beef and pork in a meat grinder or food processor until coarsely ground. Saute onion and garlic with a pinch of salt until edges begin to brown. Drain bread/rice mixture. Combine onions, garlic, bread and rice with meat. Grind or process again until finely ground, running the slice of bread last to catch any leftbehind bits. Mix in spices, about 1/4 cup bread crumbs (more to taste), two big pinches of salt and egg into meat mixture until thoroughly combined.

Carefully separate and remove the leaves of the cabbage and place into a large, microwave-safe dish. (You want to get almost all of the leaves until they become too small to use (the core+leaves will be around the size of a closed fist). Add 2 tbsp of water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the leaves are soft and pliable (about 8 minutes). Remove wrap and let cool.

Lay out a cabbage leaf and fill the leafy end with meat. Tuck up the sides and roll towards the stem end so that you have a little cabbage roll. Set aside and repeat.

Preheat oven to 325F.

In a large skillet set over medium-low heat, add 1 tbsp oil, swirling to coat. Add three or four cabbage rolls (don't crowd them) and brown nicely on both sides (about 4 minutes). Remove to a 13x9 baking dish. Set the rolls quite close together. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.