Mini Cabbage Rolls in Creamy Pasta Sauce

Large Head Cabbage

1 Onion, halved and cut into strips

½ lb. Ground Beef

1 tsp. Mustard

Paprika

Salt & Pepper

1 ¼ C. Water

1 T. EVOO

½ C. Heavy Cream

4 servings of Farfalle Pasta

 

Fill a large pot -one in which you can submerse a whole head of cabbage- with water and bring to a boil. (It is helpful to use a pot with a strainer insert, such as a pasta pot, so you can pick up the insert to remove the cooked cabbage, rather than struggle with spoons or tongs.) Add the first head of cabbage and parboil for about 10 minutes. Remove and let it drain in a colander in the sink until just cool enough to handle. Gently pull the outer leaves off each cabbage. (Some of these might be soggy or torn.) Your goal is to have 8-10 perfect medium to large leaves in which to roll the stuffing. Set aside the torn, soggy or small leaves for now. Once you have enough leaves, slice the imperfect ones and what is left of the core into thin strips. Heat the oil in a large straight sided sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and cabbage and cook, stirring occasionally until soft and lightly browned on the edges. Meanwhile, heat water for pasta in separate pot. Combine ground meat with mustard and paprika. Season with salt and pepper to your taste. Form into enough balls to match your cabbage leaves, dividing the meat into equal sized pieces. Place a ball on one edge of a cabbage leaf, fold in the sides, and roll, sealing the meat into the cabbage dumpling. Add water and cream to the pan. Season with additional paprika if desired. Bring to a low boil, nestle the cabbage rolls into the pan. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 15 minutes. Cabbage should be soft, and the ground beef cooked through. Add pasta to water while cabbage rolls cook. Strain and then add to pan. Gently toss pasta around to coat without damaging the cabbage rolls. (You could also serve pasta separately, and spoon the cabbage mixture over the noodles).