Quick Young Cabbage with Ground Meat

Ingredients

For the ground meat base:

700 g ground meat
1 large onion, diced
2 medium carrots, grated
1 medium tomato, diced (or 2 tbsp tomato paste)
2–3 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tsp sweet paprika powder
1 tsp chmeli suneli spice mix (a Georgian herb blend)

For the cabbage:

700 g young white cabbage, cut into large leaf or “flower”-like pieces
1 liter water
1 tbsp salt for blanching

Step-by-Step Instructions

🔹 Prepare the Ground Meat Mixture

Step 1: Sauté the vegetables
Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and grated carrots. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until the onions are translucent and the carrots are slightly soft.

Step 2: Cook the ground meat
Add the ground meat. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently and breaking up clumps. Fry for about 10 minutes until the meat changes color and releases some liquid.

Step 3: Season
Once the meat starts browning, season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue frying until golden spots appear.

Step 4: Add the spices
Stir in the paprika and chmeli suneli spice mix. The 14 herbs in chmeli suneli will release a wonderful aroma. Mix well.

Step 5: Add tomato
Add the diced tomato (or tomato paste). Fresh tomato gives the best flavor. Stir to combine.

Step 6: Simmer
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 8–10 minutes until the tomato softens and blends into the meat.

🔹 Prepare the Young Cabbage

Step 7: Boil water
While the meat is simmering, bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tbsp of salt.

Step 8: Cut the cabbage
Cut the young cabbage into large, flower-like chunks. Remove the core, but keep the pieces fairly large – they’ll shrink during cooking.

Step 9: Blanch the cabbage
Place all the cabbage into the boiling salted water. Cover the pot. Once it returns to a boil, blanch for just 2–3 minutes. Stir once to ensure even cooking.

Step 10: Drain
Drain the cabbage in a colander immediately. It should be soft but still slightly firm. Don’t overcook – it will cook further later.

🔹 Combine & Finish

Step 11: Combine ingredients
Add the blanched cabbage to the meat mixture. Gently fold everything together until well combined.

Step 12: Add garlic
Add the chopped fresh garlic – it pairs perfectly with the cabbage and adds depth to the flavor.

Step 13: Final simmer
Cover the pot and let everything simmer together on low heat for 3–5 minutes. Then remove from heat and let rest for another 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your meal! 🍽️
This hearty and flavorful dish is perfect for a cozy, comforting dinner – and it’s ready in no time.