Cabbage Roll Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound ground beef (preferably 90% lean)
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 4 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage
• 2 carrots, peeled, quartered, and sliced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
3. Incorporate the cabbage, carrots, beef broth, tomato sauce, rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar into the pot. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
4. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
5. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.