Recipe: Greek Cabbage Rolls & Lemon Dill Sauce

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 large green cabbage, stem/core removed
   

For the filling

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 cup short-grain rice
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh dill, minced

For the lemon sauce

• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups water from the pot the cabbage rolls were cooked in or chicken broth
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Remove the cabbage core and place the cabbage in the pot, core-side down. Boil for 10-15 minutes, flip, and continue cooking until the leaves are tender and slightly translucent. (Alternatively, freeze the whole cabbage for 12-24 hours, thaw completely, and gently separate the leaves.) 
2. Prepare the filling by combining the ground beef, rice, diced onion, salt, pepper, olive oil, and ¼ cup minced dill in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
3. One at a time, lay cabbage leaves flat on your work surface. Trim the thick base if needed to make rolling easier. Place 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the leaf, fold in the sides, and roll tightly. Repeat with the remaining leaves and filling, placing the rolls snugly in the pot and layering if needed. Reserve 3-4 leaves. 
4. Place a small to medium plate on top of the cabbage rolls, slightly smaller than the diameter of the pot. Pour water into the pot, filling about halfway up the side. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, and then turn to medium-low to keep at a simmer. Cook for 60-90 minutes or until internal cooking temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 
5. Transfer the cooked cabbage rolls to a serving dish and cover to keep warm. 
6. Add 1 ½ cups of the water from the pot to a blender with the lemon zest, juice, cornstarch, eggs, and blend until incorporated. 
7. Transfer to a small pot over medium heat, stirring often, and let it thicken as the sauce cooks, about 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Spoon sauce over cooked cabbage rolls and garnish with additional fresh dill.