Step 1

Set a large stockpot ¾ full of water onto your stove above high heat and bring to a boil

Step 2

Core your head of cabbage at its bottom and place into the boiling water. Let it boil for 5 minutes

Step 3

Once 5 minutes is up, remove the cabbage and dunk into a bowl of ice water to "shock" it to stop it from cooking

Step 4

Remove it from the bucket of ice water and set it aside in a bowl to let it drain of water.

Step 5

Take your stockpot, drain of water, and set aside

Step 6

In a large bowl, mix your rice, ground pork, onion, garlic and egg together (it's easiest to do this with your hands, but that's up to you)

Step 7

Once everything has been mixed, add your black pepper and paprika and mix again until spices are evenly distributed

Step 8

Once the cabbage is more dry, begin peeling leaves off the cabbage. Be very careful not to rip the leaves so your rolling can be done more easily

Step 9

Place one cabbage leaf on a flat surface like a cutting board. Cut and remove a small part of the spine to flatten the leaf more and make it easier to roll around the filling

Step 10

Take a large tablespoonful of filling and place it in the middle of your leaf

Step 11

Slowly roll and tighten the cabbage around the filling, folding the sides of the leaf into the middle first, and then rolling the leaf up until it’s wrapped around itself entirely

Step 12

Repeat until all cabbage leaves are stuffed and rolled

Step 13

Take your large stockpot and create a bottom layer of half your coarsely chopped onions and sauerkraut

Step 14

Next, layer the cabbage rolls on top of the bottom layer

Step 15

Add another layer of your remaining sauerkraut and onions on top of the cabbage rolls

Step 16

Add your smoked ham or bacon on top the sauerkraut and onion layer

Step 17

Slowly pout your stock into the stockpot, submerging all the ingredients. If your stock doesn't submerge everything, use water as needed

Step 18

Add your bay leaves and tomato paste. Stir the tomato paste into the liquid

Step 19

Bring your stockpot and the stock to a boil over high heat, and then reduce to a simmer for 1 hour

Step 20

After 1 hour, take the stockpot off the heat and remove the cabbage rolls from the stockpot. Serve your rolls with some of the cooked stock as well as yogurt on top or on the side, and enjoy!