Verza Ripiena - Stuffed Savoy Cabbage

Directions

1. Wash, peel and boil 2 potatoes. mash the cooked potatoes with a fork or pass them through a ricer.
2. Carefully remove the outer leaves of a Savoy cabbage (carefully so you don't tear them), wash them and blanch them. Set aside on a clean tea towel.
3. Wash the remaining leaves (the inside of the cabbage), wash them, pat dry, cut off the thick stalk and cut the leaves in thin strips.
4. In a sautée pan, add the olive oil and the garlic. When the garlic starts to sizzle, remove it and add the chopped cabbage leaves, cover the pan and let wilt.
5. Remove the skin and crumble the fresh italian sausage and add it with the minced veal. Add the meat to the cabbage in small portions so it fries and not cooks in its own juices. Mix and let cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
6. Add the mashed potatoes to the vegetables and meat, season with salt, freshly ground pepper and fresh thyme rubbed out of the twigs.
7. Pre-heat oven to 400º (gas mark 6).
8. Butter an individual muffin mold, line it with the thicker side of a blanched cabbage leaf, leaving the thinner part of the leaf outside.
9. Fill with the potato, cabbage, meat and sausage filling and fold the remaining leaf over, tucking it in well.
10. When all the cabbage leaves are finished, cook in the oven for 15 minutes.
11. In the mean time, cut up the pecorino cheese in small pieces, add it with the cream in a small pan and melt over low heat.
12. Serve each stuffed cabbage on an individual plate and pour some pecorino cheese sauce over it. Add a dash of freshly ground pepper and some freshly ground nutmeg.