Friday, July 16, 2010

My Polish Mum's Gwomki Recipe (Cabbage Rolls)

When I feel like vegetarian...I just change the meat to lentils or mashed up chick peas!!
Also I add more vegetables into it...like pumpkin or sweet potato.
Ingredients:
Whole round cabbage (blanch each leaf separately)
Pork and veal mince, just pork will do if I cant get veal.
Bacon,(chopped) 1 egg
Boiled rice (gluggy so it all sticks together I dont rinse it)
Garlic, Onions, Parsley, Mixed Herbs, Capsicum, Salt and Pepper to taste. Maggi Seasoning, Olive oil.
Cook in the olive oil,onions, garlic, chopped bacon, chopped capsicum.
In large bowl mix pork and veal mince together with cooked onion & bacon mixture....salt and pepper and Maggi seasoning to taste.
Add rice and meat and egg to bind it all. Throw in parsley or whatever other green herbs you like.  Now place a handful of mixture on blanched cabbage leaf and roll up like a parcel, place in  baking tray in rows. 
Now throw on some olive oil on top and bake in moderate oven until brown, turn over and brown other side.
With leftover cabbage I cook up some chopped bacon, throw in chopped up cabbage and throw
in a packet of chicken noodle soup with enough water to soak up the noodles so its moist but not a runny consistency.
That is my late polish mother's recipe. Its delicious, and simple.....the kids and grandkids love it.
Plus the son in laws, plus all the visitors who have tasted it. The grandaughters actually cook it themselves now, the cabbage mash that is... they havent quite got the gwomkis yet!! 
You may put tomato sauce on top when served. (fresh tomatoes are best)
The vegetarian version is also delicious and easy.