Libyan Brak (Traditional Libyan rice rolls wrapped in spring cabbage)

Credit to Afaf for the photo.

This is another Libyan recipe I obtained from my good Libyan friend Afaf. I think it is a healthy way of serving rice in a slightly different manner. Instead of having to cook different other dishes to be served with rice, brak has everything in a roll. Tried this today and it taste really nice.In some countries, vine leaves are used for wrapping.


Ingredients:

Spring cabbage for wrapping
1 cup of meat- cut into 1 cm size
2 cups of rice
4 tbs tomato paste
4 stalks of coriander leaves- chopped
parsley - chopped
dill/ mint(optional) - chopped
4 onions- chopped
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tbs coriander powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
salt
2 tbs oil/ ghee

Method:

1. Wash rice and mix with all the ingredients mentioned above. Put aside for 15 min for the rice to absorb the flavour.
2. Wash the spring greens/ cabbage and soak in hot boiling water for 2 min to soften the leaves.
3. Remove the central stalk and cut the leaves into 2 or 4 or whatever size desired.
4. Put the rice mix onto the leaf and wrap it and close the two ends by pressing the leaves in.
5. Steam the braks for 30 min- 40 min for the rice to be cooked. Serve hot.